Help identifying my Gibson A

[Mandorad]

I just noticed that the old Gibson A that I've had for years has very faintly stamped on the back of the peg head FG 2554. Does that stamp identify it -- i.e., when it was made, what that model was more specifically called? I can't believe I never noticed it. There's absolutely no information inside the body, and I thought I'd never learn its provenance.

[Mandorad]

Here's a photo of it (if the attachment works):

150501

[pheffernan]

I believe that the F in the prefix points to 1940 and the model that you have there is an A50 wide body.

[MikeEdgerton]

Built between mid 1937 and and the start of 1942, this is indeed a wide bodied A-50. The FG does indeed identify it as being a 1940 model if it is a serial number. They also used FA. The number seems short but you may not have the entire number.

Look inside the mandolin with a flashlight towards the neck block. Is there a number stamped there? You're going to have to really get it at an angle to see it.

By the way, I hope you have the case for this. It's hard to find a case that fits these wider mandolins.

[Mandorad]

Here's the case -- well used. (Sure don't see any identifying info inside, after looking hard.)150542