Unknown Mandolin

[mmg]

My aunt bought this mandolin at a garage sale 10 years ago. #I just started playing mandolin last year and she gave it to me. #I have no idea where or when this mandolin was created. #The body has received extensive damage over the years (as seen by the photo), yet it still sounds great. #The inside of the body reads either "JESCO" or the J is a cut off U and it is supposed to read "UESCO". #The headstock has a Moon and a Star embedded in it. #My aunt always wondered how much it was worth. #Can anyone help identify this mandolin and also recommend a place that could repair it? #It's greatly appreciated.

[mmg]

[Jim Garber]

My guess is that it is a product of the Lyon & Healy factory. The pickguard shape very much resembles those of their American Conservatory (mid-priced) line. JESCO was prob a retailer and the possibly jobbed this out to L&H to put their own label on it. Very common practice and still it to this day.

The bridge is in the wrong place and it has the usual back cracks from age, dry conditions and overly-heavy strings.

It is not worth any serious money but could be a decent instrument, if fixed up properly. Then again, it may not be worth putting any serious amount of money into it, if it needs too much work to make it playable. Mandolins of this era and level are very common despite what the eBay sellers may say about rarity.

You may havce to tell us approximately where you live to recommend a repair person.

Jim

[Eugene]

I like the rosette and crazy zig-zag binding.