Faultless John M. Smyth mandolin

[BrassTacks]

I recently inherited this mandolin and I'm having a hard time finding any info about it on the web. Anyone have any ideas on age and value?

[allenhopkins]

John M. Smyth Co. was a major Chicago furniture etc. retailer, went out of business in the 1990's, I believe. Like many other retailers, they apparently contracted with instrument manufacturers to provide instruments that Smyth sold under the "Faultless" label. Here's a Faultless guitar, apparently built by the Chicago firm Regal, recently auctioned.

This mandolin has the "scooped" headstock profile, and a general pickguard shape, that suggests Regal's "200" series of bowl-back mandolins from the late 1920's into the '30's. These were lower-end, solidly built instruments, with modest appointments and ornamentation, selling for $15-25 in the Regal catalog. This was about the time that Regal was moving to emphasize its flat-back mandolins, but bowl-backs were still listed and sold.

I'd guess Chicago manufacture, quite possibly by Regal, and original sale through the Smyth store. Not a "bonanza" find, especially considering its rough condition; probably not worth restoring, though if it's structurally sound, and you can find an old bridge in some repairperson's "salvage drawer," it might be worth stringing up with extra light strings. With the extensive pick wear, its market value is negligible; there are a lot of "whipped" old bowl-backs around.

NOTE: my source for research is Bob Carlin's book Regal Musical Instruments, 1895-1955.

[BrassTacks]

Thank you for the reply! I appreciate the great info. You answered all the questions I had on this.