Holdrio-Picolo pocket mandolin

[remarkability]

Looking for any info on this instrument, recently acquired. Very limited info online - it would appear to be from the 1915 era from what little I found. Made in Germany. Measures 22". Nice inlay. Other than that, I am in the dark on this one. Thanks.

[Jim Garber]

Very common brand of "pocket mandolin". These are often confused with piccolo mandolins but those are usually higher pitched with shorter scales. I have some German catalogs that prob have pics of these Holdrios.

[allenhopkins]

I own a nearly identical one, which was given to my great-aunt by someone who used it in a college mandolin club in the 1920's or so. Mine has a tailpiece marked "Marcelli," which I gather was also common on German/European instruments. Mine is labeled "Holdrio-Picolo [note spelling] Mandolin, D.R.G.M., Made in Germany, W.V. Co. N.Y." It was apparently imported by whomever "W.V. Co." was. I gather "D.R.G.M." is "German Registered Design," a copyright, trademark, or patent indication.

An inexpensive, compact instrument, decent but not "fine" construction, with a three-piece back. Small voice, more a curiosity now than a useful instrument. Neat oddity, though.