Calace Labels

[trebleclef528]

The Embergher book and web is very useful in identifying the various labels which were used over a period of time... is there anywhere I can find similar info on Calace labels?
For example can anyone advise whether or not the attached is a genuine label (from) a 1950 Calace ?
Thanks
ian

[vkioulaphides]

Hello, Ian.

Even though... *ahem*... the present-day Calace family is not quite known for its scholarly prowess, have you contacted them first? They might, at the very least, be able to get you started on this interesting and MOST relevant query...

(Ironically, it is usually some other, outside party that "writes the book" on subjects such as these.)

Cheers,

Victor

[trebleclef528]

Hello, Ian.

Even though... *ahem*... the present-day Calace family is not quite known for its scholarly prowess, have you contacted them first? They might, at the very least, be able to get you started on this interesting and MOST relevant query...

(Ironically, it is usually some other, outside party that "writes the book" on subjects such as these.)

Cheers,

Victor

Thanks Victor, I'll try your suggestion, although i have contacted the family before on other matters and they are not the best at replying to mails... but I'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks
ian

[Jim Garber]

Ian:
I will go thru my pics of labels later and see what i can find. That one doesn't look all that familiar, tho.

[trebleclef528]

Ian:
I will go thru my pics of labels later and see what i can find. That one doesn't look all that familiar, tho.

Thanks Jim!

[Martin Jonas]

Doesn't look familiar to me either, and it seems peculiar to have a 1950 mandolin labelled "Fratelli Calace". I was under the impression that the Calace label pretty much reached its final stage by the 1920s and that the family continued to use the same "Cav. Raffaele Calace" labels after his death until today. Even the 1944 wartime flatback that was on Ebay a few years back had one of those Raffaele labels.

Martin

[Jim Garber]

I forgot that I had a page up from over three years ago of some Calace labels but these are from the 1920s.
Calace Labels (http://www.classicalmandolin.net/calacelabels/calacelabels.htm)

I agree with Martin that that label you show is a little odd. Here is one from 1961 and one from 1963.

[brunello97]

I have a Fratelli C label in my files that I have listed as 1898, that resembles the one in question. Anything I have from the '50s resembles the numerous versions of the style that Jim has posted.

Mick

[Martin Jonas]

Mick's label suggests that if Ian's label is not an all-out fraud, the "1950" written on it is a serial number rather than the year. Ian: from the overall design of the mandolin in question, do you think it's likely to be a 1950 model, or could it be a circa-1900 one?

Martin

[vkioulaphides]

I would second Martin's guess: Ian, are you sure that the numeral displayed on that label you started this thread with indicates year of construction, as opposed to the serial number of that particular instrument? If the latter is the case, Martin may be offering the best alternative route to authentication.

Cheers,

Victor

[trebleclef528]

Thanks for your input guys. Time for me to come clean! The mandolin in question was first advertised on Germany ebay on 1st December with a buy it now of 500 Euros, I was and still am thinking of going for it ... BUT firstly it does not look like your "standard Calace", although I have seen a slightly similar one by Nicole (slightly in terms of the head shape... see attached photos. The other factor was the label and I thought as has been mentioned that this was a much earlier label than 1950... could of course be a serial number.

My main concern is that although the seller has 100% feedback the mandolin has now been advertised again Ebay 230311998979 and yet again as ebay 230312036524... and the seller has not yet responded to my questions... so am I smelling a rat??... and doesn't seem to accept paypal, so no protection.

Advice??

[vkioulaphides]

Ever the skeptic, might I advance a pragmatic warning? With SO many Calaces floating about, why risk a transaction with a dubious seller, over a questionable instrument? If you were seeking some rarity of sorts, well... OK; it just might have made sense to throw caution to the wind, as it were. Yet in the case of a brand that is hardly under-represented on the international mando-markets, why? Just my $0.02 worth, of course.

Cheers,

Victor

[trebleclef528]

Ever the skeptic, might I advance a pragmatic warning? With SO many Calaces floating about, why risk a transaction with a dubious seller, over a questionable instrument? If you were seeking some rarity of sorts, well... OK; it just might have made sense to throw caution to the wind, as it were. Yet in the case of a brand that is hardly under-represented on the international mando-markets, why? Just my $0.02 worth, of course.

Cheers,

Victor

Victor... your advice is always appreciated, and I'm going to take your advice and let this one fly away. Anyway with Christmas looming on the horizon its no time to let MAS put a dent in my pennies
Thanks Victor
Ian