Tim McTigue
Jun-21-2008, 8:14am
Hello, first post here, I'm really happy to have found this site. #Lots of great information, from what I've seen so far.
Anyway, I've had this mandolin since about 1971 when I rescued it from my grandparents' attic in Des Moines, Ia. #We used to poke around up there on visits when we were kids, and at some point I found this thing, and I remember it was some years before I got up the nerve to ask about it. #I brought it downstairs and asked my father, who didn't seem to know about it, and grandma said "Ask your grandpa." #It had been his, of course, and he gave it to me on the spot, not that it looked like any great prize at the time, with no bridge, no nut, strings hanging loose, and the finish looking like it had been alternately baked and frozen for over 30 years...
So I've been playing it ever since, but a few years ago I noticed the top was sagging pretty badly, so I loosened the strings and put it away. #I'm restoring it at the moment, I should have it back together and strung up in another day or so (one of the top braces was broken, I'm replacing it). #I've done a bit of searching on the 'Net, and I've come to think this is possibly a Regal mandolin from the 1920's or so, which would fit with the time frame when my grandfather would probably have bought it (he was born in 1899). #It has no label or identifying markings. #Can anyone offer any confirmation or alternate information? #Thanks in advance...
http://home.cogeco.ca/~guitartim/images/frontback.jpg
Anyway, I've had this mandolin since about 1971 when I rescued it from my grandparents' attic in Des Moines, Ia. #We used to poke around up there on visits when we were kids, and at some point I found this thing, and I remember it was some years before I got up the nerve to ask about it. #I brought it downstairs and asked my father, who didn't seem to know about it, and grandma said "Ask your grandpa." #It had been his, of course, and he gave it to me on the spot, not that it looked like any great prize at the time, with no bridge, no nut, strings hanging loose, and the finish looking like it had been alternately baked and frozen for over 30 years...
So I've been playing it ever since, but a few years ago I noticed the top was sagging pretty badly, so I loosened the strings and put it away. #I'm restoring it at the moment, I should have it back together and strung up in another day or so (one of the top braces was broken, I'm replacing it). #I've done a bit of searching on the 'Net, and I've come to think this is possibly a Regal mandolin from the 1920's or so, which would fit with the time frame when my grandfather would probably have bought it (he was born in 1899). #It has no label or identifying markings. #Can anyone offer any confirmation or alternate information? #Thanks in advance...
http://home.cogeco.ca/~guitartim/images/frontback.jpg