A new exhibit at the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in the United States/Canada Gallery is showcasing a collection of ten items from the life and career of Lloyd Loar, a renowned musical innovator. The items were donated by Roger and Rosemary Siminoff, who believed MIM was the ideal place to preserve these historic pieces.
Lloyd Loar was a musician, instrument designer, acoustic engineer, and inventor with 15 U.S. patents for his designs. He is most recognized for his work at Gibson in the 1920s, where he developed iconic designs for acoustic stringed instruments. His career focused on studying instruments and enhancing their sound.
The exhibit includes instruments that Loar played during performances, such as a tenor viola and musical saw. A notable piece in the collection is Loar’s unique 10-string mando-viola, which he designed for himself and played extensively, including at a White House performance in 1923. Previously known mainly through photographs from Loar’s career, this mando-viola is now part of MIM’s permanent collection and available for public viewing for the first time.
Additionally, Loar contributed to the development of some of the earliest electric instruments, including a prototype electric viola.
