What do I have?

[Patrick Bouldin]

Hi everyone,

Picked this mando up in Austin. This mandolin has the date “ Nov 1935 “ stamped on the inside of both F holes. The tuners are inscribed “WAVERLY MUSICAL PRODUCTS CO, INC. NEW YORK

http://www.bouldin.org/whatmando.pdf


The height of the sound box is 2.5".
Thank you!
Patrick

[Geoff B]

the body style looks like a Kay...

[allenhopkins]

the body style looks like a Kay...

...except that all the two-point Kays I can find don't have symmetrical points; one point is larger and located at a different distance from the neck joint, than the other. Same for Stromberg-Voisinets and Harmonies. This one's symmetrical. Someone else is going to have to ID it.

[Steve L]

Boy, those points don't look symmetrical to me. Did you look at the 3rd photo Allen?

[MikeEdgerton]

It's a Kay. It's their body style and their headstock shape. Can't be anybody elses.

In addition, the tailpiece was by Waverly as well. You're missing the cover. Many manufacturers used Waverly tuners and tailpieces.

[MikeEdgerton]

...except that all the two-point Kays I can find don't have symmetrical points; one point is larger and located at a different distance from the neck joint, than the other. Same for Stromberg-Voisinets and Harmonies. This one's symmetrical. Someone else is going to have to ID it.

Go to the second page of the pdf, it's not symetrical.

[ColdBeerGoCubs]

You've got a pretty cool wife for letting you disassemble that in the kitchen.

[allenhopkins]

Go to the second page of the pdf, it's not sym[m]etrical.

Right you are. It was late at night...

[Richard Sanabia]

Can you guys please help me ID this one? The back of the headstock says made in USA, Model 319.12971000.

[F-2 Dave]

looks Harmony-ish.

[allenhopkins]

Harmony Monterey, (http://www.elderly.com/items/90U-4483.htm) betcha. Elderly sold theirs for $95. Serial number interpretation I leave to the Harmony experts, and as to why it has a holographic atom on the headstock instead of the Harmony name, and no pickguard...?

[bobbyburns]

The headstock medallion is a stylized SR. It stands for Sears/Roebuck.

[Patrick Bouldin]

If I still had a wife maybe I'd have done it in the garage!!

Hey guys, if it's a Kay I have a couple other questions. One: How much is it worth (I paid $75 for it so you won't hurt my feelings). If I refinish it will it affect the value?

Thanks everyone!
Patrick

[MikeEdgerton]

I don't see an SR in that medallion but my eyes are old. It does appear to be a Harmony built product. Are there any numbers stamped inside it Richard?

[MikeEdgerton]

Hey guys, if it's a Kay I have a couple other questions. One: How much is it worth (I paid $75 for it so you won't hurt my feelings). If I refinish it will it affect the value?

It's worth about what you paid for it. It will be worth very little more refinished.

[bobbyburns]

Mike, It is on it's side in the picture. Turn the head upright and look at it, think Jetson's, it really is an SR.

[MikeEdgerton]

Mike, It is on it's side in the picture. Turn the head upright and look at it, think Jetson's, it really is an SR.

That certainly makes it easier to see. Great logo actually.

Check out this (http://harmony.demont.net/catalogs.php) page of Harmony Catalogs. About half way down there is a Sears Roebuck SR catalog from 1970. The guitars appear to have that logo on them. In the 1970 Harmony catalog near the top of that same page you'll find what appears to be this same model mandolin with the Harmony label on it.

[bobbyburns]

Mike, Thanks for the link I had not seen that page before. It's nice to know that other folks are also interested in these things.

[MikeEdgerton]

Get yourself hooked on the Strad-O-Lins and you can really go crazy. At least you know who built the Harmony instruments.

[bobbyburns]

Too late to worry about that. I've had several strads apart too. I think there are 4 of them in the pile now.

[MikeEdgerton]

Bobby, you need to put some of them back together :)