mikanson
Dec-26-2009, 8:01pm
My grandpa gave me an old Royal brand Mandolin he bought out of someone's garage in the '40s. I haven't found any information about the brand and was wondering if anyone knew anything about it or could put a date on it.
The back bowl is striped and appears to be made out of rosewood and something that looks like ash. The top looks like red spruce or possibly cedar. What do you think?
Any comments are appreciated! Thanks everyone!
bennyb
Dec-27-2009, 7:45pm
Howdy Mikanson,
I'm not a gentleman of the bowl, in fact I know next to nothing about them. But I know how to turn pages on the internets. So here's what I got.
Mugwumps (http://www.mugwumps.com/AmerInstMkr.html#R.) lists a Royal Music Co. Cleveland Ohio circa 1900.
Musicaviva (http://www.musicaviva.com/instruments/gallery/listbybrand.html?no=71&phrase=royal) has ten pages of listings under royal brand, the link is to page 8; scroll down to model b160, click on more info, next click on the picture, magnify. It has the right headstock shape and the Royal decal, but the wrong pickguard(aka butterfly). From 1929. The Royal Music Co. appears to have been a distributor and importer of a wide variety of instruments; they were probably big enough to order instruments in enough quantity to have the maker put the Royal label on at the factory.
And to throw ink in the ether, here's Musicaviva Page2 of the Washburn entries (http://www.musicaviva.com/instruments/gallery/listbybrand.html?no=11&phrase=washburn), scroll down to model 73(and 74), click thru to the detail. Right headstock, right pickguard, but not a royal. From 1889.
The bowlmen usually recommend extra light gauge strings, and string both sides "to the inside" if you get my meaning. The experts may be able to sort it out, but its probably not an instrument that will create that much interest. Looks like it's in great shape though.
Happy New Year, benny