Help please

[daydreamer]

My dad has dug his mandolin out of the closet and asked me to help him find out who the maker was and get a rough idea what the value might be.

The only thing I know is that it was purchased in the early 1900's in New York by my great-grandfather for his daughter, Ethel, who is my father's mother.

For the most part it has been tucked away in the closet for at least the last forty years.. although I do think I remember Dad mentioning that the bridge (I hope that's right) has been repaired, but I'm not sure when.

There is some information visable through the hole but when I tried searching the info there, most of what I found was about sheet music and not mandolins. I'm hoping I can figure out how to post pictures in this post, including a picture of part of the stamp.

I would REALLY appreciate any help that you can give me, even if it's just letting me know where I can get more information.

Thanks, Dena..

http://home.earthlink.net/~denainobx/images/mandolin1.gif

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http://home.earthlink.net/~denainobx/images/mandolin3.gif

[grsnovi]

It appears to be in pretty good shape and a step up the chain from the hundreds of thousands produced back then but I don't recognize the brand: Carl Fischer

Based on the number of instruments produced during the period and the condition (assuming it stays in tune and doesn't fret out/buzz) I'd guess you could get $600 to $800 for it (plus or minus).

There are numerous folks here who know much more than I do about these.

[Bob A]

I'll not speculate on ther price, but please make sure tghat the instrument is not strung up with modern mandolin strings, or you'll warp the neck beyond repair.

Most strings produced today are made for Gibson style carved top mandolins. The only strings suitable for this instrument that are easily available (and not all that easy, I might add) are GHS classical (super light gauge) and Black Diamond.

OK, I will speculate on price. I assume the trim is not pearl or abalone. I can't tell whether the fancy work on the side is inlay or not. But assuming the side trim is wood, not pearl, I'd figure the mandolin is in the 4-500 range (assuming the neck is OK).

[daydreamer]

Bob and Gary, thank you so much for your quick response. I picked this web site to look for help because everyone seems so helpful.. and I see I was right. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Bob, I am almost positive that there is no pearl, but I am fairly sure that all the decoration is wood inlay. #Dad and the mandolin are in California and I'm in North Carolina, but I'll ask Dad when I talk to him tomorrow. I will also let him know what you said about the strings.

Gary, I did a ton of searching on Carl Fischer and could only come up with info about sheet music. #I am one of those people that firmly believes you can get information about anything on the web, and trying to find a mandolin connection to Carl Fischer has been very frustrating.

Thanks again for your help!

Dena..

[grsnovi]

At the time it was very common for ANYONE in the industry to offer a branded instrument. There were a couple of companies who made lots of instruments and they would make 100 for the music store on the corner and stick the music store's label inside.

I suspect that Jim or Pete might have a better feel for this but as Bob notes, you'll want a light guage string on it: 9's for the E

[Eugene]

Fischer was (is) a massive firm, mostly known as a publisher, but they also maintained a storefront and commissioned their own house brand of instruments in the early 1900s. #I think their finest mandolins were labeled "Cleopatra" or some such (is my memory a bit skewed, you other bowlback fans?). #This piece looks to me like it was assembled in Chicago, possibly by Regal shortly after the move of that brand to Chicago. #The scratchplate inlay is very similar to a wrecked bowlback in oak I once bought just for its case; that mandolin was labeled "Lion Brand."

[gibby24]

I think the writer is right that a company could get their name on an instrument if they ordered a certain quantity. I think this is Carl Fischer the music publisher. Note that the font used on the label is the same font used today by the Carl Fischer music company today. As to value the neck is everything.

[daydreamer]

I spoke with Dad over the weekend and passed on all of the information that everyone here was so gracious in sharing.

According to him the strings that are on the mandolin are the original strings, so hopefully that means the neck is still in good shape (it also is pretty telling about how much it's been played and how musically inclined my family is. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif ). #It has also always been stored in it's original case.. and I would think that helps.

He also said that he believes, or at least from what he can see, there is some pearl on the the neck.

I asked him if there is anything else that he can remember about the mandolin that might help identify it and he said that he thinks he remembers his mother telling him that it was made in Italy and that the name on the stamp (under Carl Fischer) SOROSIS has something to do with who made it. #(Please keep in mind that he's 75 and trying to remember what he was told by his mom over a half century ago. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif )

Thank you again for all the great help.. you folks are amazing!

[Eugene]

SOROSIS would simply be the model, like "Cleopatra" in the fancier mandolins commissioned by Carl Fischer. The model name is interesting. Sorosis is a word to describe a fruit that is formed by a conglomeration of flowers. It also came to mean a women's club. Many amateur mandolin orchestras in the early 1900s were comprised of women. I'm guessing this model was to be marketed to female amateurs, eh?

[Bob A]

By "pearl on the neck" I assume your Dad is referring to the position markers. I was unclear: pearl or abalone in the binding trim is what I meant - that is generally an indicator of a mandolin made to a higher price point, although not necessarily superior musically.

You will certainly find that putting on some fresh strings will improve the sound considerably. The GHS Classicals are available from Just Strings (linked to this site somewhere) and will not harm the mandolin.

[John Bertotti]

Wouldn't the music company possibly have some history of there company some where. Maybe it would help to contact them also. John

[Eugene]

I have never contacted Carl Fischer on their old house-brand instruments (I have on sheet music), but, by way of example, I have contacted Lyon & Healy regarding their old line of mandolins. My experience is that the current staff of old companies with 100-year-defunct lines of instruments is remarkably unresponsive and disinterested in researching old instruments. On the other hand, old companies that are still active in the same field (e.g., Martin) can often be very helpful in researching their old lines, even usually keep a specialist in such things on staff. Of course, Martin has amongst the best records throughout their history and a massive reputation, so the comparison may not be entirely fair. If you want to try to reach the parent firm, daydreamer, click here: Carl Fischer (http://www.carlfischer.com/).

[Jim Garber]

I had the same experience that Eugene had. I figured L&H would have some archives or interest in their history. They seem only to be interested in the harp business, their only remaining one.

I had the very same experience with Hammond Organ. When I acquired an old accordion amplifier I wanted further information and called them only to find that no one was interested or cared to delve further. I guess they leave that to the historians and obsessive collector types.

Jim