Looking for info on my mandolin

[Julie Ann]

I have an old mandolin (early 20th century) with the label "Marcelli, made in Germany" on the tailpiece. I'm trying to find any information out that I can about it in my quest to decide whether I should spend $250-300 fixing it up or if I should buy a new one. I purchased this one second hand and dont know much about it. The label on the inside reads "Alpina".

Anyone familiar with that make?

[Bill Snyder]

Julie Ann, could you post a picture of it? It might help with the identification.

[Julie Ann]

Here are a few photos. Thanks for your input!

[Jim Garber]

Marcelli is the name of the manufacturer or brand of the tailpiece. I have seen the tailpiece on other German-made mandolins. Yours is probably also made in Germany, probabaly 1940s or 1950s. Just a wild guess tho. Maybe someone else has more accurate info.

[allenhopkins]

I have a "Holdrio-Piccolo" mandolin, marked "Made in Germany" and sold by the "W.V. Co., N.Y." (?), that has the same Marcelli tailpiece.

[mandolirius]

Hmm, not a lot of info so far. Maybe some of the European members might know more about it.

[brunello97]

Here is an earlier discussion about an "Alpina" labeled mandolin:

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25272

Quite a different model style, which makes one wonder whether Alpina was a maker or a distributer.

Mick

[mandolirius]

Hey Julie, seems like this one has the Cafe crowd stumped. I searched around a bit myself and found one flatback Alpina in a NJ music store for $249. No pic, so I don't know how similar it is to yours.

I'm thinking it might be best to invest your money into something more modern, with a longer scale and more playable neck.

[Andy Miller]

Kind of looks like my first mandolin which was a Stella. I wonder what exactly it needs that will cost $250? But I'd agree with mandolirious - $250-$300 could easily be more than it's worth spending. . . unless you're just in love with it, which happens!

[Bill Snyder]

What kind of work does it need? Did you get a quote from a repairman of $250-300 or is that just your guess?
I do like the looks of it.

[Bernie Daniel]

Julie Ann: to decide whether I should spend $250-300 fixing it up or if I should buy a new one.

Hi. Just wondering where the $$ figure can from. Did a repair person quote that price and if so what kind of fixup did it include? The mandolin looks to be well made and has a large body so it might sound good? Hard to tell what kind of wood though as its all finished.

Alpina today is an tuner firm that specializes in creating ultra hi-performance BMW automobiles! :)

[Julie Ann]

The repair estimate of $250-$300 came from a repair shop. It needs a new bridge and the old one is actually glued to the top so will likely cause a little damage to remove. He estimated it would take about 3 hrs to replace the bridge and touch up the top. Plus he'd restring it, adjust the nut and install a strap button on it for me.