Identify this one please!!!

[bluesyswede]

Got this project from eBay..

Looks like a “higher end” mando.. Very nice woods and inlays.

But I have NO idea of what it is, which maker built this one??

Looks and feels quite old, but in a very nice condition for it’s age..
Apart from the broken top that is, LOL!

There’s a round MOP inlay on the headstock, no others markings!

So.. What is this, folks!!?
If anyone anywhere can help me with this one, it's gotta be here..


http://www.johaneliasson.com/MyskoMando/MyskoMando.jpg

http://www.johaneliasson.com/MyskoMando/mm3.jpg

http://www.johaneliasson.com/MyskoMando/mm5.jpg

http://www.johaneliasson.com/MyskoMando/mm6.jpg

http://www.johaneliasson.com/MyskoMando/mm7.jpg


A label on the back of the headstock says:
Sold at Matt Umanov Guitars in NYC..

[MikeEdgerton]

Unless those tuners have been changed it isn't all that old.

[jeff mercer]

Johan,
Looks a lot like one I had labelled "Crafton", a Swedish brand that I always assumed came from the Levin factory.

I noticed from your post in another Cafe forum that you're in Sweden, so it's funny to think it was built there, sent to the US & sold in New York, then winds up back in Sweden...sort of the mandolin equivalent of a homing pigeon !

Concur with Mike as to the vintage..most likely '70s.

I didn't do any Googling previous to posting this, so there may well be some info on Crafton mandolins on the 'net. Let us know how you go.

Cheers,mate
Jeff.

[bluesyswede]

Hey guys!

The tuners are replaced, not the original ones!

It's not a Crafton, it's surely US made.
From looking at it I think it's quite older than the fine condition let's one think.

It was such a fine instrument before the "crash", haha..
Birds eye maple back and sides, ebony fretboard, heel cap and headstock overlay. Herringbone trim.

The round MOP inlay at the top of the head is something I've seen before somewhere and it bugs me that I can't recall where!!?? :confused:
There has been some engraving in that MOP. as well, but it's hard ta say what...

Anybody seen that big MOP dot on a headstock before??
Can it be a clue?

[bluesyswede]

Btw, here's two clips showing some of my mandolins, many Swedish Levins among others:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiGtiyIMwog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n6Rwi8MyOk

Just for for fun!!

[MikeEdgerton]

If you post a closeup picture of the headstock it would be easier to identify the inlay. The headstock is similar to some Washburn guitars made in the Tonk Bros. years. There is a guitar dated 1939 in Herbert Pleijsier's book that has a similar shape and is labeled Washburn. The fact that it isn't labeled Washburn means it wasn't the top of the line (assuming it was made by Tonk Bros). Let's see the inlay.

[bluesyswede]

Yes, Washburn has been my guess so far, I've seen late 1930's pics that looks kinda similar, I'll take some new photos today and post!!

Or it can be the work of some skilled luthier with no connections to any company, in that case I guess it would be hard to find out what this is..

But I'm happy that you are interested in helping out!!
We all love little mysteries don't we, LoL!! :grin:

[bluesyswede]

OK, here's some new photos..

Looking inside I could see some pencil writing saying something like:

Julio Paulino or Poulina(kinda..)

Seeing that makes me think it's the work of some really cool luthier that might not have been working for a company...

http://www.johaneliasson.com/MyskoMando2/DSC02888.jpg

http://www.johaneliasson.com/MyskoMando2/DSC02889.jpg

http://www.johaneliasson.com/MyskoMando2/DSC02891.jpg

http://www.johaneliasson.com/MyskoMando2/DSC02892.jpg

http://www.johaneliasson.com/MyskoMando2/DSC02894.jpg


I just simply have NO clue what so ever....

[MikeEdgerton]

I can't make out anything on that inlay but I suspect that this wasn't made in the USA. Have you got a pictures of the original tuners?

[Michael Gowell]

Why not ask Matt U.?

[bluesyswede]

An excellent idea, I just found their site on the internet!!! :)

[EdHanrahan]

... The round MOP inlay at the top of the head is something I've seen before somewhere and it bugs me that I can't recall where!!?? :confused:
There has been some engraving in that MOP. as well, but it's hard ta say what...

Anybody seen that big MOP dot on a headstock before??
Can it be a clue?

I'm pretty sure that it appeared on an e-Bay item that was re-listed several times about a year ago, maybe a bit more. As best I recall, the mando was pretty old, possibly a bowlback. Fairly darkened and not near as clean as yours. There was blue text (engraved?) on the inlay that was mostly worn off & illegible - possibly the manufacturer and city, but that was guesswork even then.

Sorry if this doesn't help much... just a clue!

[sunburst]

The rosewood peghead overlay, the herringbone trim, and the "zipper" back strip look exactly like what one would find on 28 series Martin guitar. Perhaps... just perhaps, it was a Martin employee's side project.

[bluesyswede]

The rosewood peghead overlay, the herringbone trim, and the "zipper" back strip look exactly like what one would find on 28 series Martin guitar. Perhaps... just perhaps, it was a Martin employee's side project.

LoL!! That would be cool..!! :mandosmiley:
I just wrote an email to Umanov guitars, let's see if they can remember it?!

I'm about to restore it now and it sure would be fun to know what I'm working on here.. :)

[bluesyswede]

Got an amazingly fast reply from Mr. Umanov!!
He says he can't recall this one.. :confused:

So, back to square one!!

In any case, I'm restoring it, known or unknown, it'll make one fine instrument!! :grin:

[Schlegel]

I have a probably older bowlback with a round white celluloid dot in the headstock, like yours, but in thin black lines there is an RBW monogram, which is Wurlitzer.

[MikeEdgerton]

There is another mandolin that is linked on another thread today that has the round RBW logo (only in metal). It's one of Jake Wildwood's bowlbacks.

[bluesmandolinman]

Btw, here's two clips showing some of my mandolins, many Swedish Levins among others:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiGtiyIMwog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n6Rwi8MyOk

Just for for fun!!


Just watched the mandolin Jam #2 video and really enjoyed it.
Allways interesting to compare instruments from the same maker.
Maybe you have a group photo of the Levins?

Oh and welcome on the cafe ;)

[bluesyswede]

Thanks!

I haven't got a photo of all Levins together..

http://www.johaneliasson.com/Levinmandolinerna/DSC01704.jpg
Here's some of those in the video..

http://www.johaneliasson.com/Levinmandolinerna/DSC01709.jpg
Mahogany, walnut, walnut, birch..

[bigbike]

Hey, its just before bedtime for me and with photos like that you are sure to give me pleasant dreams! I am prone to "A" styles anyway and those 2 really lovely Walnuts are great, so is the mah, and the one at the end. One lucky person to own those beauties!

[bluesmandolinman]

Thanks for the pictures. I really dig the headstock design of the Levins.

[bluesyswede]

Thanks guys!

Yeah, the headstocks are really nicely designed!

[grassrootphilosopher]

I really liked the videos. They showed the Levins well. I would have liked to see an earlier f-hole style Levin too. The one presented in the video took a back seat to the oval holed ones.

The video shows that there are a wide variety of vintage choices out there (given the fact that not all of us play hardcore bluegrass).

[Matt Prouty]

The wood on the headstock face appears to be Jacaranda da Bahia, which either makes it made in South America, made from old stock, or made before the ban went into effect, sometime in the late 60's if I recall.

[Jim Nollman]

Funny, i immediately thought Brazilian just because of the wood and inlays, but without any other good reason.

[bluesyswede]

I really liked the videos. They showed the Levins well. I would have liked to see an earlier f-hole style Levin too. The one presented in the video took a back seat to the oval holed ones.

The video shows that there are a wide variety of vintage choices out there (given the fact that not all of us play hardcore bluegrass).

Thanks!!
Yes, there's a LOT of cool old mando's out there to be found..

I'm recording a new album right now for release in March, several of my old mandolins will be featured on it.
I'm amazed how different they all sound, each one has their own cool tone, LoL!!
F-hole video clips coming up later on..

[bluesyswede]

The wood on the headstock face appears to be Jacaranda da Bahia, which either makes it made in South America, made from old stock, or made before the ban went into effect, sometime in the late 60's if I recall.

Thanks for the input!
I'm guessing it's older than the 60's..
Just a gut feeling..

The name written in pencil on the inside could place it to be built in South America as well. Are there any well known good builders coming from there?

[Oggy]

I really liked the videos. They showed the Levins well. I would have liked to see an earlier f-hole style Levin too. The one presented in the video took a back seat to the oval holed ones.

Personally I've never played a good f-hole Levin. Their oval hole mandolins are a lot better! But that's just my opinion.

[Matt Prouty]

While Julio is not a common name in Brazil, although it is in Spanish speaking countries, you can look at luthiers from Brazil using the word Bandolim (Mandolin in PT).

Here is the link from the Cafe:

http://www.mandolincafe.com/archives/builders/bandolim.html

Brazil, like all of South America, and the rest of the world for that matter has some phenomenal luthiers and some that are less than desirable. That being said the mass produced instruments or factory instruments are usually mediocre.

I would look more towards a Spanish speaking country as an origin for your instrument. In Spanish mandolin is either Bandolin or Mandolina.

[bluesyswede]

I think it US made, definitely not Europe anyhow..

[bluesyswede]

Bump!
Just wanted to see if there's any new forum members that just might have an idea about this mandolin?!
Any new input welcome!!

[Jim Garber]

Looking inside I could see some pencil writing saying something like:
Julio Paulino or Poulina(kinda..)

Well, that sounds Portuguese/Brazilian to me. I bought a basket case Brazilian mandolin some time ago and the workmanship looks similar. Also, there were a bunch of what I call kitchen table luthiers in and around Greenwich Village in the 1960s and 70s. I met an Italian player who had a very nice instrument from one of these makers -- I don't know if he knew who his maker was.

In any case, let us know what you can find out from Matt.

[bluesyswede]

Thanks for the reply, Jim!

Regarding the name, I don't really think it says anything about where it was built..
I mean, this name surely can be found all over the globe.
Like the Larson bros were from Sweden but built their instruments in the US. :)
I'm sure this mandolin was built somewhere in America, and it is very old as well.

It looks and feels like a high(ish) end factory item, the question is which one, haha!?

The MOP inlay should give some clues, I've seen it but I can't remember where... :(
And the headstock shape should lead to a manufacturer?

[Jim Garber]

I have seen a bone or ivory round inlay on Empire State bowlbacks made by Viohl, but those were made at the turn of the last century. I don't think this one is that old. Is it really pearl? -- it doesn't show up that way on the photos.

[bluesyswede]

Yeah, it's pearl, the laquer over it has turned a bit yellow with age so it's a bit hard to see on the photo.
My guess is that this one was built in the 1920's or 30's..

[Jim Garber]

I still say it is not a factory instrument but one made by a good luthier. As Mike suggested, original tuners might give us an idea of the era.

[bluesyswede]

Original tuners are missing sadly enough..

Hopefully someday, someone, somewhere will know what this is, haha!!
I'll keep on asking and looking..

[NickR]

This is a very old thread but here is another Crafton- in the UK. The label shows a Goteborg origin in Sweden but that may be the retailer. One point to note, the tuners are a style used by Levin. Levin used Waverly in the 1930s but then moved to tuners that look very similar but there are no screws for the gears. I assume maybe because of WW2, Levin sourced a local manufacturer which replicated the Waverly type. I don't know if Levin made these mandolins as a sub-brand or for a retailer to sell. This mandolin is a lower quality to the one originally discussed. I have a feeling that eight strings will really show an action that will be challenging.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/404385056002?hash=item5e273a4502:g:a3kAAOSwH71ktU7 ~&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4LYFK%2Bwbgx5xhO01ewISRjvETZU Suj7lUb1roy1Cgt%2F6O4jJyeRuXm42ud3ZuJMrg3%2Bob1pN5 M9p1b6RfsRBnsGXFEL6PrY%2FtLopnv0nL964U1jvYQInXPlD8 lYcXXM7xK7uuuT%2Fj5hmM%2FqsXQYUl6N6rxupCKcs4eMCeTX afcLUq%2BeRYc4RWRtN13BCP8K1%2BXOTlxg7bdMV5NS1NDNp6 QBkmr%2F%2Fm8duVrXeYDCRQNKtgasTTCJzjcB0xQjPjTLGu6y ZMvVpNFFY53kBUFb7E13b38MwSUbanOW216q4e%2FIe%7Ctkp% 3ABk9SR4Kx18-tYg

208621
208622

[NickR]

I found this- which nails the origin, I am sure:

With the invaluable assistance of Rikard Magnevill at Vintage Guitars in Stockholm, we've learned that the Crafton brand was created in 1945 by Waidele Musik, a prominent Gothenburg instrument retailer. Remaining in operation until 1962, the factory is said to have produced some 35,000 instruments, including guitars of all types, in addition to mandolins and lutes. This extraordinary instrument, the Model 75, was their top of the line offering, whose production was limited to a mere 19 examples. The influence of Levin is clearly evident in the outstanding fit, finish and tone of the instrument, but the overall design is utterly original, and clearly a Crafton innovation from stem to stern.

Here is the Model 75 guitar- mentioned above.

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