ca. late 1890s Hawkes Panormo

Description This great sounding late 1890s example of the Hawkes Panormo was built using some very nice woods, medium-fine grain spruce for the top plate and boldly flame figured maple for the neck, ribs, and back plate. The ribs have no external linings and the top and back plates are graduated significantly thinner than the plates found on the German made instruments of the more commonly encountered 1910s-1920s period. This is a magnificent sounding orchestral instrument equippedwith a Stenholm C extension. The heavy brass machines are fit to brass halfplates that are engraved “Hawkes &Son London”. Dimensions are: Top length 44″, Upper bout width 21 7/8″, Middle bout width 15 3/4″, Lower bout width 26 3/4″,  Rib depth at tail 8 3/4″, Rib depth at upper bout crease 8 5/8″, Rib depth at neck 5 7/8″, String length 42 1/8″. Repairs include a few well-repaired top cracksand corner repairs,  a couple of smaller rib cracks, and a reglued seam separation in the upper bout area. Ebony rib bumpers have been added. The characteristic “H” was inlaid in the button area at the time of manufacture. A Stenholm C extension has seen a lot of use in orchestral sections over the decades. A Mooradian cover is included.