3 old mandolins

[shelley]

Hi, I have three old mandolins. Two have no names on them but the one with the butterfly does have a 4 digit number inside on a piece of what appears to be thin leather or parchment maybe? The third is a Stetson but I know absolutely nothing more. these were all given to my husband in 1954...(they had been hanging in a friend's grandpa's barn for years) I would sure love to know a little something about them if anyone can help.
Thanks so much
Shelley

[shelley]

here's the head of the butterfly mando

[shelley]

Here is the other no name mandolin

[shelley]

Here is the Stetson. I would like a little info on this if anyone knows about it.
Thanks
Shelley

[MikeEdgerton]

The second one has a shape similar to a Kay but I don't think it is. The headstock is wrong and the body shape is a little off. I'm thinking one of the crosstown shops in Chicago tried to imitate the body shape without duplicating it and I'm guessing it was probably the folks at Regal.

There are some Stetson mandolins on this (http://www.larsonbrothersguitars.com/otherpics.html) page that were said to be made by the Larson Brothers. Mugwumps lists Stetson as a W.J. Dyer Brand name circa 1883. W.J. Dyer is listed on the same list as having been in St. Paul, MN from 1871 to 1897. I've seen parlor guitars with the Stetson brand name that were probably made later.

[shelley]

Hmmm, that's interesting! Thanks for your input. It came from the mountains in Northern California...but of course it wasn't built there. I'll check out what you have told me.
Shelley

[MikeEdgerton]

I seriously doubt any of them were built in California. I added the Stetson information to my first post. I suspect the Butterfly model wasn't made in the US. Jim Garber and the rest of the bowlback community can probably add more.

[shelley]

Thanks again for your added info! I've been searching through the internet for Regal... which I found quite a bit on.. but no mando's shaped like the second one.
The grandpa that originally hung them (all three mandolins) in the barn was from Germany so you are probably right about the butterfly one being German.
Thanks so much! This is all so interesting to me. I really appreciate the input.
Shelley

[shelley]

The tag inside the Stetson reads:

JF Stesin & Co
MAKERS

just thought i'd add that.

Shelley

[MikeEdgerton]

You probably won't find a Regal that looks like that. The shape is similar to those made by the Stromberg-Voisenet company. They became Kay. The also made them under other brand names like Kay. They made them for the music trade so they might have any brand on them. The problem is that yours is just a little off and I don't think Kay made it. Here (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=34576;hl=kay) is a recent Kay thread that contains some images.

[shelley]

Thanks for the thread... nice pictures! I do notice that my headstock is indented where theirs is a "bump" for lack of a better word. I will continue to try and track down who made them, you've given me way more information than I had.... actually I had none before! !!
Thanks so much!
Shelley

[allenhopkins]

The butterfly mandolin looks a lot like this one (http://picasaweb.google.com/ferrugoog/ButterflyMandolin?authkey=ZDhFJst6B1I) on Craigslist in the Seattle area. #No identification as to manufacturer.

The "Kay" looks a lot like a (fancier) Recording King that's pictured here (http://www.folkwaymusic.com/instruments/mandobanjogallery.html) (you have to scroll down quite a ways to get to it), but the RK has a different shaped headstock and pickguard, plus full body back and front binding. #Looks like the same bridge, tailpiece, and black-knobbed tuners though, so they may be related.

[MikeEdgerton]

The Recording King is a classic Kay built Instrument, headstock and body. The body on the mandolin above seems skewed, just not quite the same shape. It just looks off.

[MikeEdgerton]

Look at this Kay and the mandolin listed above. Notice the difference in the bottom of the body. The Kay is rounded, the one above almost squared off. There is a difference in the top point as well. I don't think it's a Kay. As far as the tuners, tail piece, bridge, etc. the Chicago builders all bought from the same jobbers. You'll see the same fingerboards and inlay showing up on Harmonys, Kays, and Regals all the time. You'll even see instruments obviously built by one with the others brand name on it.

[shelley]

First, to reply to the butterfly mando in Seattle, it does resemble mine quite a bit but the headstock is different and the tuner assembly is completely different.
Thanks for the link to the neat pictures and thanks for helping! Mine does have the number 4198 inside it on what appears to be thin leather or thin wood.
Now as to the "kay" type mando..I do see a resemblance in the body shape, you are VERY correct about the bottoms being different as are the heads. I think there are too many manufacturers out there! It's sure fun looking though! Thanks so much again!
Shelley

[Bill Snyder]

Shelly did you look at this link (http://www.usd.edu/smm/PluckedStrings/Mandolins/Larson/11903/StetsonMandolin.html) I posted in the other thread? It supports the Larson connection for the Stetson.

[shelley]

Oh sure does look like the Stetson. There are several small differences (head, tuners, inlays, fingerboard tail (is that what it's called?) but the similarities are striking also. I've had such fun going through all of the different sites that all of you have sent me and/or spoke of, I had no idea there were so many manufacturers! What a range of styles too! Wow!
Thanks again!!
Shelley http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif yee haw!

[Jim Garber]

The butterfly is the number one insect chosen for pickguard inlays, tho you would think it would be the 'tater bug http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif The looks of it don't ring a bell tho I doubt it is Italian. More likely of of those jobber mandolins sold thru large catalogs for a few bucks each.

I agree for the flatback the Chicago connection mainly because of the headstock resembling American Conservatory (Lyon & Healy brand) but very likely, as Mike says, Regal product. I have not seen that specific shape but will check my catalogs and report back if I find anything.

[shelley]

Thanks so much! All of you have been a huge help to me. Even though I haven't been able to identify the two, I have lots of leads and have seen sooo many great mandolins! It's really been a treat! This is a wonderful site with wonderful people!
Thanks again
Shelley