Mystery Mandolin: Made in Germany

[Micah Friesen]

I need help Identifying a mandolin I just bought from a guy online. There is no make or model number anywhere that I can see. the only words written on it is on the bottom of the mandolin on the metal piece that holds the strings. It says "Made in Germany" From what I can tell from my brief research, It has a European style head, and seems to be a cross between an A and F style body. it doesn't have the F style holes in it, But it also doesn't have the tear drop shape that comes with an A style. I think its older, but I'm not sure. If you have any idea on how old it is, who made it, and what kind of style it is, or really any information at all, please let me know.

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[Jim]

Hofner perhaps a 545 , a picture here http://www.mandozine.com/media/instruments/Astyle/hofner_model_545_mandolin_1963.html

[MikeEdgerton]

Framus and Hofner made similar models. I don't see anything that resembles an F style mandolin. That's an A style mandolin with a slotted headstock and cat's eye shaped f holes.

There are some vintage Framus catalogs here (http://www.framus-vintage.de/). There are vintage Hofner mandolins here (http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/gallery/gallery2/bluegrass.html). I think it's a Hofner.

Here (https://www.google.com/search?q=hofner+site%3Amandolincafe.com&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8) is every thread on the cafe with the word Hofner in it.

It looks like this (http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/gallery/bluegrass/mandolin5.html) 547. It also looks like the 545 Jim linked to.

The age (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Made_in_Germany) is probably before 1973.

[Micah Friesen]

Thanks for your helpful reply! From your links I think it looks more like a Hofner then a Framus. Is there a way to tell if the mandolin has a laminated top and back or wood top and back? Also, is there a way to tell if it is a genuine Hofner or a knockoff? I found a similar mandolin on eBay, linked here (http://www.ebay.com/itm/GORGEOUS-VINTAGE-HOFNER-CATS-EYE-545-1960S-MANDOLIN-w-HARDSHELL-CASE-/371474981442), and there are some photos there that raise some concern for me. Particularly these two (pulled from the bay ad)
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My mandolin doesn't have the stamp on the back of the headstock like the one I found on eBay. And also, the one I found online says it was "made in west Germany" compared to my "made in Germany" Might this help in identifying the correct age?

[MikeEdgerton]

Nobody would do a knock off of an inexpensive mandolin like that. This isn't a Beatle bass, these are very common. The only real way to see if it had a solid top would be to pull off the binding on the f hole, not recommended. You can try using a dental mirror inside to see if the grain matches up on what you see on the outside but that will be tough as well. It is a pressed top and back, most likely laminated. These are valued more for their cool factor with the odd f hole design than they are for their sound.

In 1973 the German government suggested that simply made in Germany was misleading and people started putting made in West Germany on the items manufactured there.

Framus like the American manufacturers in Chicago made instrument "for the trade" made to be labeled by distributors, importers, retailers, etc. Many were sold with no branding what-so-ever.