1920s Fratello Indelicato Mandocello/Bazouki on Baton Rouge CL

[Greg Stec]

Reasonable price, IM(NS)HO.

http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/msg/4402465401.html

FYI only.

[mrmando]

Do we know anything about the builder?

I have a brother who's indelicate at times, too.

[brunello97]

Do we know anything about the builder?

I have a brother who's indelicate at times, too.

Is there a better shot of the label on this?

I've got some examples of mandolins in my files from the "Fratelli Indelicato" and also from Mario and Salvatore Indelicato (who I assume were the brothers.) The Fratelli label also states "Dalla ditta Giovanni Indelicato Contarino" (from the office of......)

They had a shop at 7 Via Botte d'Aqua in Catania when they were working together. I'll post some images when I get home from work, unless someone beats me to it....

Mick

[brunello97]

So here is what I have on the Indelicati. A label from i fratelli and an older one from Giuseppe Indelicato Contarino and perhaps an even older one from Giuseppe Indelicato senza Contarino. Note that Giuseppe I-C drops the Contarino on his stamp.

On the label from i fratelli they mention offering guitare quatro. Not sure if they are referring to the quatro known in the New World or perhaps to the CL instrument.

There was also a Salvatore Indelicato whose label and mandolin design both look pre war. My guess from the labels and design from i fratelli and from Giuseppe I-C are post-war. Catania suffered from serious air bombardment during WW2 and a lot of its instrument building was lost. The Indelicati appear to have survived.

Mick

[brunello97]

For posterity sake, here are images from the CL Indelicato - FWIW the label of which does appear to be different than the Fratelli Indelicato mandolin.....

Mick

[Jim Garber]

Lowell Levinger has a video of a Indelicato guitar. Here is photos on his site and on gbase.

Description: ca. 1948 Fratelli Indelicato VG++ Made in Catania, Sicily, Italy, this is a spectacular showpiece that has a gypsy blues sound to it and plays fine with a big fat neck whose sunburst matches that of the top and the sides and the back on which the finish is quite worn. The headstock is also sunburst and there is a zero fret. There are a few well done and hard to see repairs. The tuning pegs appear original and work fine. The original label is nicely intact. The soundhole rosette and spider web pickguard design are stunning to say the least and the bold checkerboard trim sets it off beautifully. No case but we'll ship securely.

[brunello97]

Whoa. Dig the spidey-scratch plate!

The label looks like the same version that is on the CL instrument. Same Botte d'Aqua address for i fratelli.

Mick