Can Anybody help Identify These Mandolins

[Malraux]

Hello,

Forgive my first post to this forum being a request for help!

I have recently aquired two mandolins. One has a makers name (J. Head, Chicago) the other unamed. I am a collector of vintage guitars, but mandolins are a new obsession. Can anybody help me with age etc?

Here are images of the instruments:

This one by J.Head? Chicago.

http://www.bibliart.com/DSC04605.jpg

http://www.bibliart.com/DSC04610.jpg

This one without a makers name:

http://www.bibliart.com/DSC04614.jpg

http://www.bibliart.com/DSC04617.jpg

Thank you for your help.

Malraux

[JeffD]

Its curious that both mandolins have those patterns of five holes on the top. I have never seen that before.

[Malraux]

JeffD,

Many thanks for your reply. I do not feel quite as ignorant now, as I too have yet to see a soundboard pierced like this. The mandolins belonged to the same person.

Malraux

[man dough nollij]

:confused:I've never seen anything like that before. I can't imagine how you get the rattlesnake rattle inside... :confused:

[Jim Garber]

Thanks for sharing these.

My guess is that these were made by someone who was emulating a taburitza. Those instruments (mandolin related and from Croatia originally had soundholes like that. I own one that is shaped like a little Telecaster. Pittsburgh was a hotbed of tamburitza players but it is quite possible that Chicago was also. Here is a pic of a contemporary one.

I have never heard that maker of the pearl bordered one. Certainly looks interesting.

Of course the J. head one was also influenced in the headstock design by Lyon & Healy.

[Malraux]

Jim,

How interesting and I think you must be right given the arrangement of the sound holes.

Many thanks for this information.

Malraux