Restoration project
I have a small Montgomery Ward guitar to restore within a buget. I'm not too worried about the money because I really want to bring this little fella back to life.
It spent a good deal of time in two different attics. The fingerboard shows the results of the hot, dry conditions. This will be replaced with a new one.
I suppose I'm going to have to loosen the top around the bottom bout since humidifing so far has done nothing for closing the top cracks. I don't want to splint the cracks if I can help it.
I saw Franks work on that 1887 martin. Maybe he will chime in on closing up these cracks.
I'll need to make a new bridge to match the original. I 'm guessing its a pyramid bridge with flats instead of pyramids. Most of it was gone and someone installed a scrap of wood and a tailpiece.
The back and sides are in good shape. and fixing the neck heel is straight forward.
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Permalink Reply by David Houchens on
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Here are a few more pictures
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This is the tailpiece that was used on it. It will not be used again but I am curious as to its origin if anyone knows. thanks.
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Permalink Reply by Paul Breen on
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I believe that Lyon and Healy used Windsor as one their trade names for the Montgomery Ward mail order catalog.
Look at early examples of Lyon and Healy and Washburn Guitars for bridge shape and style. The ends would have been flat and not pyramidal.
I have had success before closing cracks by painting the inside of the top with water several inches on either side of the crack. I have closed up some fairly wide cracks like this. Be generous with the water applications, you may have to repeat several times to achieve the results you want.
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Permalink Reply by Pierre-Antoine Roiron on
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Wow! I've never seen fingerboards like this one.... thanks for th pics. I hope you'll can close the cracks using some water. I don't like splints too... they are too hard to touch-up.
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I also see now where Mr Ford glued small blocks on either side of a crack, inside of a mandolin and using little clamps,pulled a crack closed. The finish is so thin on this top I don't want to get it soaked, but am going to wetting this evening. Thanks
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