My Turn To Take Care Of a Family Heirloom

Well, it’s official. I'm now the 4th generation  “Ivers” to own the 1914 Gibson F4 Master Model Serial # 24532 pictured and documented all over this web-log.  All I can say is that it's truly an honor and a privilege to take my turn as the caretaker of this beautiful instrument.

My wife and I spent last weekend celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary in Chautauqua, NY (I'd marry you all over again my love!) On our second day there, we drove to Big Flats, NY for the day to have lunch with my parents.

After a delicious home cooked meal, my wife spent some time helping my Mother with a computer issue, and my Dad, said to me "Come on let’s go look at that F4, I want you to take it back to Florida with you."   Wow!  I guess I knew I would end up with it eventually, but it's really a thrill to be able to enjoy it sooner than I thought. When my dad handed it to me, I didn’t really know what to say or do, so I tuned it, and gave it back to him to take one last ride on it. He sight read a few tunes from an American Song Book collection, and then it was my turn.

Four Generations Of Beautiful Tone

I've played it every day since we returned home to South Florida, and man, it is truly amazing to gaze at the 1921 photo with my Great Grandmother Ivers playing the same mandolin I now hold in my hands.  My Great Grandfather, Joseph Ivers, the mandolin orchestra leader and Gibson Mandolin Company “agent” purchased it new in 1916, and he and my Great Grandmother Mary Bassett Ivers played it.  For sure my Grandfather George Ivers played it, then my Father, Robert Ivers played it, and now I'm playing it. Since I don't have children, I guess it’s never too early to try to get one or more of my sister’s  three daughters interested in the mandolin, so one day I can pass it along to a fifth generation.