History of Guitar Binding

[markkatharris]

Hi

Just swapped this guitar for a set of strings and restring. It’s made by Ermelinda Silvestre and would love to know if anyone has any info on this female luthier.

But the main point is when did luthiers start using binding. This guitar has been cha,veered between the top and sides (I’d thats the right word) rather then using binding which I assume wasn’t a technique when this guitar was made.

Judging from the nut and saddle it would appear this is made for steel strings.

I’m going to remove the neck and repair the split in the shoulders before resetting the neck. Any suggestions on this would also be welcome.

Also what about the patina, leave it clean it.

 

[markkatharris]

More pics

 

[Quantum Strummer]

Silvestri was an Italian outfit located in Catania, Sicily. Their guitars became known outside of Italy after WWII, during the UK's embargo on American goods of various kinds, when they were imported by the Dallas company (later of Dallas-Arbiter fame). One of my Scots cousins owned one, his first guitar, as a kid. He taught me my first chords on it. An English photographer acquaintance of mine also had one as a teenager. They were inexpensive instruments.

-Dave-

 

[markkatharris]

Good info, that’s a start.

 

[SFIV1967]

I found this info:
"One of the main reasons for importing acoustic steel strung guitars into Britain in the 1950’s was the demand for louder instruments as the lighter nylon strung Spanish made classicals failed to deliver a cutting edge sound in the folk, skiffle and rock & roll boom of that era. There was also still a U.K. import embargo on U.S.A. instruments until June 1959 which meant nearly all the guitars that were shipped into the U.K. came from Europe, produced mainly in Germany, The Netherlands and some from Italy. The Italian luthiers and instrument makers who were originally best known for mandolins and violins had also developed an expertise in producing high quality Gypsy-Jazz guitars in the 1930’s -40s and were ideally placed to produce lower to medium priced steel strung acoustic parlour styled guitars that were in demand in the 1950’s. The Catania instrument makers of Sicily were the prominent producers of these guitars ‘Catania Carmelo’ and ‘Ermelinda Silvestri’ were the biggest volume producers of that period. The Silvestri company was established in 1891 and changed its name to ‘S. Sgroi Silvestri’."

According to old Italian family books a man named "Santi Sgroi" was born in Catania in year 1870 and he married a "Ermelinda Delfina Maria Silvestri" who was born in San Martino Carano (near Modena) 10. February 1878. As profession "luthier" is listed. So that sounds like a fit.

They had 5 kids, Alarico (Rico) Sgroi (born 1899), Salvatore Sgroi, two more boys and one girl Maria Liboria Sgroi who only lived for 1 year from 1901 to 1902.
In address books from that time the family address is given as "via Ventimiglia 202, Catania" under "mandolin makers".

The "Ermelinda Silvestri" company was founded 1891.
There was also a relationship to Rome (Roma), maybe that's where she started as luthier? https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=70002&d=1300818859
The newer label: https://images.reverb.com/image/upl...90,w_620/v1520705460/cyhqpwoxh2bxrcrjhhoz.jpg
And: https://5.allegroimg.com/original/0caba3/64f5bd6347ccbfb1d0939c345095

Santi Sgroi's own brand at that time was "S. Sgroi Mancuso" founded shortly before in 1888.
Example of "S. Sgroi Mancuso" label: https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=128227&d=1419997332
Looks like at some point they also had a shop in Naples (Napoli): https://images.reverb.com/image/upl...90,w_620/v1525872326/issefm6pzxuwuqaphjga.jpg

Regarding the Mancuso part: Santi Sgroi's mother was a born Mancuso. Santi's father Salvatore married Liboria Mancuso in 1858.

So when "S. Sgroi Mancuso" and "Ermelinda Silvestri" merged the new company was subsequently named "S. Sgroi Silvestri".
Sounds like it was always the fathers and mothers name together and hence I would guess that "S. Sgroi Silvestri" started actually when a son of them took over the company, probably their above mentioned son Salvatore? But there were two more sons who's names I didn't find, maybe one of them also started with "S".


Here's an quite interesting label that shows the new name "S. Sgroi Silvestri" and below word "già" means "already", so the label showed that the new company is the merger of both former company names.

And later:
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eeX7hS-A...nR5QCLcBGAs/s1600/Silvestri+S.Sgroi+LABEL.jpg


Undated add showing both original company names next to each other:

Ralf

 

[markkatharris]

Ralf your homework is easily the b st and you go top of the class. Wow that was fantastic. May I ask are you into genealogy as well as guitars.

 

[SFIV1967]

May I ask are you into genealogy as well as guitars.

Yes, but only a little bit. My grandfather from my mothers side did it big time (well in Germany before and during WWII that was almost mandotary for German families...) and so I always liked looking through his old documents. And my dad continued on his side of the family as well, especiually as his parents died shortly after WWII and he didn't know much about his family. So I also have those documents now. It's interesting to dive into family history and needs a lot of dedication to visit church and town archieves and to connect the dots and pieces.

By the way, I edited my above written notes and added info about the Mancuso part as well. At least that is what I found out, no guarantee that is all 100% correct.

Ralf