Help identify my grandfather's Weymann mandolin

[TScar]

I have a Weymann bowl back mandolin that has the number 1752 stamped into the headstock. If this is the serial number, and judging from other posts I've seen, it seems to be from around 1900 or thereabouts? But I'm not sure.

Can anyone help identify it and quantify it's worth? As can be seen by the photos, it is in quite good condition. I indicated that it was my grandfathers' although actually it belonged to an uncle who passed away but since I'm nearly 70 I wanted to put it into a time-frame.

[Bruce Clausen]

Nice looking mandolin!

Seems like you've already identified it. Someone here may be able to work out an approximate date from the number, or the decal, or the tuners. Finding a player that will like the way it plays and sounds enough to buy it isn't always easy, so value is a tough question. But one of our experts will probably be able to quote a range.

[allenhopkins]

This website offers a guide to "Weymann serial numbers and dating," but it starts with Ser.#5000 in the year 1905. Since Weymann apparently was founded around 1864, the company could have been building instruments well before 1900.

This theory, which is based on guesswork and insufficient information, would place #1752 as being probably in the 1890's. Take it for what it's worth (not too much...).

As to value, it has family value as an heirloom, modest market value. Weymann mandolins are somewhat of an "off" brand, other than their mandolutes which are somewhat in demand. Bowl-backs, probably not so much. I'd definitely price it under $300, though it is in good condition and by a recognized American maker.

[Scot63]

Luthier extraordinaire Jake Wildwood just repaired a very similar (maybe slightly fancier?) model and is tentatively dating it to the 1890s: https://antebelluminstruments.blogsp...olin.html#more