Help with instrument identification

[stout1]

I was at the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival this weekend, which is a folk art type fair, and they had a couple of "stages" with old-time and folk type preformers. #It was very interesting because I got to see and hear in person for the first time some great vintage Gibson A oval holes as well as some F-4's. #Hearing them in person made me realize why many people rave about these instruments. #

One of the preformers was playing a A-style oval hole that said "The Flatiron" on the headstock, but it was a flat mandolin. # The headstock inlay or paint looked just like a mid 90's Gibson Flatiron headstock inlay, but it had a body shape similar to the Strunal in the eye candy section. #I really liked the apperance and the tone, but I can't find anything like it on the net. #Can anybody help me?

Thanks, Nate

[Strado Len]

The original Flatirons were indeed flat, and were modeled after the Gibson Army-Navy model of the late teens. They were available in several levels of trim, but used all solid woods. Mid-Missouri currently offers similar instruments.

[fatt-dad]

You may have been looking at a Flatiron 1N or 2N. Both are great mandolins and show up on ebay for the $400 to $900 price range.

f-d

[stout1]

Thanks guys. I contacted Weber and Gibson and they said the same.

Nate

[racuda]

I bought a 1N on eBay for $255. Great instrument. Loud, punchy, easy to play, and cheap enough to be a beater.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....5262864 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3705262864)