Jonathan mandolin on EBay

[Jim Nollman]

This looks a bit like a high end Martin, but much less expensive. Can any one chime in with a history lesson?

no financial interest

[allenhopkins]

"Jonathan" is listed in the Mugwumps index of American fretted musical instrument makers as a brand name used by Aaron Burdwise of Baltimore MD, listed as a "wholesale and manufacturer's agent of musical instruments" in a 1919 Music Trades publication.

Jake Wildwood of Antebellum Instruments has ID-ed another mandolin marked "Burdwise" as Regal-built, and I wouldn't be greatly surprised if the Jonathan in question were also a Regal product. Body shape and pickguard design seem compatible with early 20th-century Regals.

Not a Martin, fer shure, and perhaps worth the asking price if it's in really nice shape. The seller seems to think so, anyway...

[Jim Garber]

Whoever made this Jonathan was most likely the same maker as made this Supertone which is only a little fancier but uses very similar features.

[Jim Garber]

Here is a very similar model labelled Washington from a 1926 Jenkins Music Catalog. The maker could be Regal or Lyon & Healy (both intertwined, for sure).

[Jim Garber]

Might as well post some of the ebay pics, so we have something to refer to long after the auction is gone.

[brunello97]

Here's a Martin E comped with a Supatone/Jonathan/Regal/Livingston/Harmony/Seagull. Interesting to not the subtle yet clear differences in geometries. No confusing a Martin. I enjoy how much design restraint is evident in even the high end flat backs from this era. Some earlier Martin bowls can get primped out these are loverly.

All that said, the OPs mandolin is pretty clean and that was a dependable series of instruments whatever their provenance. That's a real price, but the back rosewood looks splendido.

Also the detail where the back covers the neck heel is special. Note the difference between it and the same detail on the mandolin Jim posted. There was a dust up here some time ago about whether that particular detail was a sign of Larsonosity, etc. Not to get into that again, but it is a nice bit of work and not the standard thing one finds on these.

I have a mandolin listed as a Sammo in my files with that same diamond on the headstock. But I don't have a lot of images of it (and Sammo/Osbourne did use other logos on their headstocks) so I can't be certain. I think you can just make out he Sammo triangular label in the front photo. It does have the back detail I described as well though the wood is less likable than on the OP's.

Mick