1940s Regal-made Blue Comet Flatback

[Jake Wildwood]

I don't work on too many entry mandolins, but this guy is actually pretty good for what it is... and who can resist absurd celluloid?

Plus -- 14" scale!

Original blog post/more pics here. (http://antebelluminstruments.blogspot.com/2013/08/c1940-regal-made-blue-comet-flatback.html)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oey71Vy5S0U/UfvloCP_MtI/AAAAAAAAm0k/3RUKdIXV4mg/s1600/comet-1.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cLPmLdLuIqs/UfvlqYpJISI/AAAAAAAAm1I/bClcaN5m7rY/s1600/comet-2.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ff7VR16QKL8/Ufvlr-Z9XeI/AAAAAAAAm1Y/yWKNoO-w6_8/s1600/comet-5.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yryZr-tkusQ/UfvlslxH-qI/AAAAAAAAm1k/JkNH9ltgQgw/s1600/comet-7.jpg

[billhay4]

Confetti on January 21 in Northern Finland.
Bill

[Steve Sorensen]

Really cool.

Steve

[Jim Garber]

Cool , Jake. I haven't seen a non-resonator Blue Comet. Are you certain it was made by Regal?

[Jake Wildwood]

Jim: Not 100% but very, very close to sure. I haven't handled a lot of 40s Regal products, but this is very, very close to their late 30s all-birch ones: 14" scale, same neck block style, deep body, nut width, neck shape, body shape/size. The odd parts are: laminate body (vs. solid) and thinner heel.

[Tavy]

Celluloid? Looks more like 1970's wallpaper! :)

[Jim Garber]

i think the manufacturer(s) of the Blue Comet instruments (and others of the same design with other labels) is as much of a mystery as the makers of the Strad-O-Lins. if you can find a Regal that matches your Blue Comet then we have at least a solid clue that Regal was one of the makers.

[Jake Wildwood]

I agree that a nicely-labeled Regal of the same sort would seal the deal, but there's so much the same with this mando and similar Regals that it hurts not to call it one. If I'd had to reset the neck I would've been able to tell you if it was a dowel joint (which would pretty clearly ID it as Regal for me).

Still, I might as well go and update my blog post to that effect.