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Looks to be either a Rivoli or an Adelphi from the 1940's. There should be a label inside the bass-side sound hole with the model and serial. Also, if the label has a green border, it's probably...

I saw this listed on Reverb:
https://reverb.com/item/12682729-lyon-and-healy-washburn-style-b-mandolin
The seller says it's all original, save the bridge, but the neck doesn't look like other Style...

Beautiful mandolin; it certainly looks to be in great shape (it even has its fancy tailpiece cover). Can you please post a picture or two of the back? A 1936 Rivoli would have a walnut back; I'd like...

Now listed at Gruhn's:
http://guitars.com/inventory/mf8439-c-1940-epiphone-windsor
I'm curious how they decided on ca 1940.

Beautiful mandolin! The style of the Epiphone name on the headstock looks like the later style I've seen on New York Epi mandolins; so I'd guess that this one is from 1947 or 1948 (assuming that the...

I'm in!

It will have a spruce top and a walnut back. The oval-hole Rivoli and Strand mandolins were only made from 1950-56, and I don't think there are enough examples around to say whether any one year is...

I like the metal badge. I also like the big silver 'e' on the pickguard, which the CL Rivoli appears to still have. Overall, I think he's asking a fair price. It looks like it has its original,...

My Rivoli has the same headstock emblem as the one on CL (the headstock in my profile pic is a '45 Strand). I've seen other Epi instruments with the metal badge substituting for inlay, but it seems...

I have a '51 Rivoli; it's got a very nice sound. If I didn't already have one, I'd probably contact the owner. I would agree that Rivoli mandolins generally are rare; but 1951 must have been a big...

Rick,
You're probably thinking of the old guitar dater site: http://www.guitardaterproject.org/epiphone.aspx
The problem is that your 5-digit serial doesn't work there. Epiphone serials from the...

That can't be the mandolin your friend was given in the thirties. As has been stated, that 'Epiphone by Gibson' logo was only used during the eighties. Epiphone mandolins made before the Gibson...

Nice looking mandolin! And I'd love to hear it, since Gruhn's added 'fine sound' to the description (I like my old Adelphi, but I don't think I'd use 'fine sound' to describe the tone, heh-heh).

I'm suspicious of that pickguard, too; the placement of the support arm doesn't look right. And if that's a compensated saddle...
But I do like that headstock decal; I think that's the one on top...

I think you're correct again, Masterbilt. The Rivoli is 6057 (early 1933) and the Adelphi is 7030, making it late '33. Good observation!

Masterbilt, that's a fine looking Adelphi! I have a 1944 Adelphi with a blank headstock, but I've always heard that wartime shortages caused that 'no-frills' look (actually, 1944 seems to have been a...

Bamboone, that's one beautiful set of vintage guitarage! And seeing that harp guitar (and some of the stuff on that German website) makes me wonder what other Epi stuff is still yet to be discovered....

Here's some pics of my Hollywood. Sorry for the quality. The guitar overall is pretty well worn, and it looks like some work was done to the headstock inlay, but it looks to have a funky bridge and...

Hello, Bamboone; I have a 1932 (serial 52xx) Hollywood that has a headstock layout very similar to the Harry West Strand. I'll try to get some pics up this weekend to see if that's what you're after....

Welcome to the Cafe, Masterbilt! The best source I know of for info on the NewYork-era Epiphones is Fisch and Fred's House of Stathopoulo. It's out of print, but copies turn up on ebay somewhat...

This site has good info on Epiphone serials (use the serial scheme for acoustic guitars).
http://home.provide.net/~cfh/epiphone.html#serial
If the label uses a gothic-style font, it is probably...

I don't know anything about Mayfair mandolins, other than they are in no way affiliated with Epiphone:...

"To Telluride, Mr. Sulu; warp factor 2."

"I think you're right, Bones; the Romulan Ale does help my playing."

I tend to agree, Jim. The Gibson pattern just seems to have a better 'flow' to it (IMHO). I do wonder if they had a 'scroll vs. no scroll' debate at the Epiphone factory; or if it was just 'Gibson...