Origin of the Howe-Orme Design 

George L. Orme was an associate of James S. Back, perhaps an acoustical engineer, with whom he shared patent rights to the musical instrument design that became the hallmark of Howe-Orme instruments.  In an 1893 patent awarded to Back and Orme, the critical feature was described as a “raised longitudinal belly ridge” extending along the top of the instrument from the end of the fingerboard to the tailpiece.  While this innovation is depicted on a guitar, the patent text refers to its applicability to other stringed instruments, including the mandolin.  Included in the exhibition was an "Orme" mandolin, which is identified by its pickguard with the letters “O & S” and by a sticker inside the instrument stating “J. L. Orme & Son, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.”  This allows us to suggest that the design patented by Back and Orme was applied to mandolins from early on, probably before the Howe-Orme partnership was finalized.

Robert F. DeVellis, in an enlightening web article on Howe-Orme history, sums up the rest of the story as follows: 

It seems that Orme made use of his rights to Back’s inventions by forming a partnership with Edward F. Howe.  Howe, in turn, apparently took the initiative in applying Back’s cylindrical bulge design to mandolins, as Howe holds the mandolin design patents… Back appears to have been the creative team member with Howe and Orme providing funding, manufacturing, and marketing expertise to the enterprise.” 

It is important to note, however, that it appears the Elias Howe Company did not actually operate a manufacturing plant which then leads us to ask, who actually made them? 

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