1837 LOUIS PANORMO
NUMBER 3120
The guitar as it arrived from London in April 2022.
It is to be completely repaired and restored to playing condition for a member of the owner's family. The back and sides are beautiful figured maple and the guitar is wonderful condition.
There was evidence of an insect infestation in the case and it was treated for moth and woodworm. The case needed minor woodwork repairs.
Despite the unorthodox bridge pins, the guitar was playable when it arrived in the workshop. One pearl and ebony eye is missing and will be replaced. There are rattles and buzzes indicating that there are areas unglued.
The label.
The tuning machines have several bent handles. These will be left as they are as the tuning machines work and trying to straighten them might break the irreplaceable handles. When the cleaned-up machines were fitted, I found them too damaged to be reliable. I felt the handles might break off in use. I fitted top quality Rubner tuning machines.
The main repairs to the instrument will be through the sound hole. There are bars and other pieces that are loose and they will have to be re-glued. It will be difficult to reach some of these places. I would like to try to avoid removing the back to do the work.
This is a slightly smaller guitar than the other two 1837 Panormos which have been in the workshop. Unlike the other two, it does not have fan bars under the soundboard but instead has three transverse bars. The bar closest to the bridge runs at a slight angle.
Four views under the soundboard. The second shows the the characteristic Panormo "P" carved on the bar closest to the sound hole
Making the MOP and African blackwood eye.
The loose back bars were repaired through the sound hole. With a very thin applicator, made from a feeler gauge, glue was applied to the loose area. A small prop of scrap wood spanned the distance between the loose bar and the top of the guitar. Then pressure was applied to the top and bottom of the guitar. There were four of these un-glued locations.
In June 2022, the guitar is ready to be returned to its owner.
The guitar in its coffin case lined with yellow felt.
Dimensions:
String length: 636mm
Overall Length: 920mm
Width of upper bout: 208mm
Width at waist: 160mm
Width at lower bout: 285mm
Height at upper bout: 79mm
Height at lower bout: 85mm
Nut width: 44.5mm
Distance between 12 fret and 1st string; 3.8mm
Distance between 12 fret and 6th string; 4.0mm
Weight:1.049kg