1910 Mayflower Parlor Brazilian Rosewood Stauffer Headstock

This is a sweet-sounding Brazilian Rosewood, rare, early 1900’s “May Flower” with an early Stauffer style headstock. Beautiful tight grained spruce top with an ebony fretboard, mahogany neck, and nice purfling around the top, finished with a cool center strip pattern on the back. “Stand.” Is stamped on the neck block, possibly for Standard and a reference to a model name.

Probably made around 1910 by Lyon & Healy, Larson Brothers, or another maker. There is some information on the May Flower Company on the internet, but it is sparse. Stamp on the center strip reads “MAY FLOWER CHICAGO”. Cool ornate early Stauffer style headstock with ornate metal work, and ivory tuning buttons. Nice appropriate slight arch to the top, with zero cave in around the sound hole.

This guitar is over 100 years old and is going to need the usual age-related maintenance that any guitar this age is going to need. It has traveled through the years without abuse and has been well taken care of.

12 5/8 “ wide at the bass bout. 8 5/8 “ at the treble bout. 3 3/8” depth. Slightly over 1 ¾ “ at the nut. Scale length measurement is 12 5/16ths “ from the nut edge to the center of the 12th fret. The Brazilian on the back is especially nice looking. One small crack on the treble bass bout that squeezes close with slight pressure. The back is tight but shows signs of being re-glued. If you are a perfectionist, you might want to work on this area again. The mahogany neck is in great shape. The fretboard looks like ebony and has original bar frets which are in good shape. Bridge has been re-glued at some point with some squeeze out visible. The saddle looks original and has some forward lean to it. Nut is not original and is slightly undersized, and the string height is set high at the nut. It is playable, but not perfect. The string action is high. Currently strung with Silk and Steel 11’s. Like any guitar this old, this will need some neck work to be restored to factory original specs after 100 years of aging. This does not have a case, but will be double boxed and well packed for shipping.