Identify this one please!!!

**bluesyswede** · Jan-17-2010, 3:44pm

Got this project from eBay..

Looks like a “higher end” mando.. Very nice woods and inlays.

But I have NO idea of what it is, which maker built this one??

Looks and feels quite old, but in a very nice condition for it’s age..
Apart from the broken top that is, LOL!

There’s a round MOP inlay on the headstock, no others markings!

So.. What is this, folks!!?
If anyone anywhere can help me with this one, it's gotta be here..

A label on the back of the headstock says:
Sold at Matt Umanov Guitars in NYC..

**MikeEdgerton** · Jan-17-2010, 3:49pm

Unless those tuners have been changed it isn't all that old.

**jeff mercer** · Jan-17-2010, 4:36pm

Johan,
Looks a lot like one I had labelled "Crafton", a Swedish brand that I always assumed came from the Levin factory.

I noticed from your post in another Cafe forum that you're in Sweden, so it's funny to think it was built there, sent to the US & sold in New York, then winds up back in Sweden...sort of the mandolin equivalent of a homing pigeon !

Concur with Mike as to the vintage..most likely '70s.

I didn't do any Googling previous to posting this, so there may well be some info on Crafton mandolins on the 'net. Let us know how you go.

Cheers,mate
Jeff.

**bluesyswede** · Jan-17-2010, 6:11pm

Hey guys!

The tuners are replaced, not the original ones!

It's not a Crafton, it's surely US made.
From looking at it I think it's quite older than the fine condition let's one think.

It was such a fine instrument before the "crash", haha..
Birds eye maple back and sides, ebony fretboard, heel cap and headstock overlay. Herringbone trim.

The round MOP inlay at the top of the head is something I've seen before somewhere and it bugs me that I can't recall where!!??

There has been some engraving in that MOP. as well, but it's hard ta say what...

Anybody seen that big MOP dot on a headstock before??
Can it be a clue?

**bluesyswede** · Jan-17-2010, 6:20pm

Btw, here's two clips showing some of my mandolins, many Swedish Levins among others:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiGtiyIMwog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n6Rwi8MyOk

Just for for fun!!

**MikeEdgerton** · Jan-17-2010, 6:47pm

If you post a closeup picture of the headstock it would be easier to identify the inlay. The headstock is similar to some Washburn guitars made in the Tonk Bros. years. There is a guitar dated 1939 in Herbert Pleijsier's book that has a similar shape and is labeled Washburn. The fact that it isn't labeled Washburn means it wasn't the top of the line (assuming it was made by Tonk Bros). Let's see the inlay.

**bluesyswede** · Jan-18-2010, 3:37am

Yes, Washburn has been my guess so far, I've seen late 1930's pics that looks kinda similar, I'll take some new photos today and post!!

Or it can be the work of some skilled luthier with no connections to any company, in that case I guess it would be hard to find out what this is..

But I'm happy that you are interested in helping out!!
We all love little mysteries don't we, LoL!!

**bluesyswede** · Jan-18-2010, 4:39am

OK, here's some new photos..

Looking inside I could see some pencil writing saying something like:

Julio Paulino or Poulina(kinda..)

Seeing that makes me think it's the work of some really cool luthier that might not have been working for a company...

I just simply have NO clue what so ever....

**MikeEdgerton** · Jan-18-2010, 8:06am

I can't make out anything on that inlay but I suspect that this wasn't made in the USA. Have you got a pictures of the original tuners?

**Michael Gowell** · Jan-18-2010, 9:15am

Why not ask Matt U.?

**bluesyswede** · Jan-18-2010, 9:44am

An excellent idea, I just found their site on the internet!!!

**EdHanrahan** · Jan-18-2010, 10:20am

Originally Posted by bluesyswede

... The round MOP inlay at the top of the head is something I've seen before somewhere and it bugs me that I can't recall where!!??

There has been some engraving in that MOP. as well, but it's hard ta say what...

Anybody seen that big MOP dot on a headstock before??
Can it be a clue?

I'm pretty sure that it appeared on an e-Bay item that was re-listed several times about a year ago, maybe a bit more. As best I recall, the mando was pretty old, possibly a bowlback. Fairly darkened and not near as clean as yours. There was blue text (engraved?) on the inlay that was mostly worn off & illegible - possibly the manufacturer and city, but that was guesswork even then.

Sorry if this doesn't help much... just a clue!

**sunburst** · Jan-18-2010, 10:52am

The rosewood peghead overlay, the herringbone trim, and the "zipper" back strip look exactly like what one would find on 28 series Martin guitar. Perhaps... just perhaps, it was a Martin employee's side project.

**bluesyswede** · Jan-18-2010, 12:06pm

Originally Posted by sunburst

The rosewood peghead overlay, the herringbone trim, and the "zipper" back strip look exactly like what one would find on 28 series Martin guitar. Perhaps... just perhaps, it was a Martin employee's side project.

LoL!! That would be cool..!!

I just wrote an email to Umanov guitars, let's see if they can remember it?!

I'm about to restore it now and it sure would be fun to know what I'm working on here..

**bluesyswede** · Jan-18-2010, 12:39pm

Got an amazingly fast reply from Mr. Umanov!!
He says he can't recall this one..

So, back to square one!!

In any case, I'm restoring it, known or unknown, it'll make one fine instrument!!

**Schlegel** · Jan-18-2010, 2:50pm

I have a probably older bowlback with a round white celluloid dot in the headstock, like yours, but in thin black lines there is an RBW monogram, which is Wurlitzer.

**MikeEdgerton** · Jan-18-2010, 2:52pm

There is another mandolin that is linked on another thread today that has the round RBW logo (only in metal). It's one of Jake Wildwood's bowlbacks.

**bluesmandolinman** · Jan-19-2010, 2:49am

Originally Posted by bluesyswede

Btw, here's two clips showing some of my mandolins, many Swedish Levins among others:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiGtiyIMwog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n6Rwi8MyOk

Just for for fun!!

Just watched the mandolin Jam #2 video and really enjoyed it.
Allways interesting to compare instruments from the same maker.
Maybe you have a group photo of the Levins?

Oh and welcome on the cafe

**bluesyswede** · Jan-19-2010, 2:52pm

Thanks!

I haven't got a photo of all Levins together..

Here's some of those in the video..

Mahogany, walnut, walnut, birch..

**bigbike** · Jan-27-2010, 1:23am

Hey, its just before bedtime for me and with photos like that you are sure to give me pleasant dreams! I am prone to "A" styles anyway and those 2 really lovely Walnuts are great, so is the mah, and the one at the end. One lucky person to own those beauties!

**bluesmandolinman** · Jan-27-2010, 2:17am

Thanks for the pictures. I really dig the headstock design of the Levins.

**bluesyswede** · Jan-27-2010, 2:48am

Thanks guys!

Yeah, the headstocks are really nicely designed!

**grassrootphilosopher** · Jan-27-2010, 3:03am

I really liked the videos. They showed the Levins well. I would have liked to see an earlier f-hole style Levin too. The one presented in the video took a back seat to the oval holed ones.

The video shows that there are a wide variety of vintage choices out there (given the fact that not all of us play hardcore bluegrass).

**Matt Prouty** · Jan-27-2010, 3:11pm

The wood on the headstock face appears to be Jacaranda da Bahia, which either makes it made in South America, made from old stock, or made before the ban went into effect, sometime in the late 60's if I recall.