American Conservatory

Lyon & Healy used the American Conservatory brand on a line of 12-string mandolins and guitar-mandolins during the late 1800s and the early 1900s. The 12-string mandolins featured four sets of three strings (instead of the usual four sets of two) to utilize 12-string playability. The guitar-mandolins were mandolins in a guitar-shaped body. American Conservatory mandolins typically had the same specifications and construction of regular Lyon & Healy/Washburn mandolins of the time. Several other instruments are probably labeled American Conservatory as well. Information courtesy John Teagle, Washburn, Over One Hundred Years of Fine Stringed Instruments.