Hi everyone!
I am Alison, daughter of Stanley Jay, founder of Mandolin Brothers in Staten Island, NY. As most of you know my brother Eric and I made the (hard) decision to close the store, and eventually sell the brand to a new owner, in mid-2017. As a result of that transition, Eric and I are left with many items: “new” parts and accessories (“NOS” is actually more appropriate at this point) and some are used/ vintage. We have been selling many of these items on eBay for the last couple of years - which is a MUCH better alternative to just throwing it away or keeping it in storage. We did try and sell everything in bulk but nothing ever really panned out.
Eric and I agree that the audience/ readers of the Mandolin Cafe would be the best option to receive some good advice on our latest project - What to do with our collection of “The Vintage News” as well as several thousand 4x6 photographs (actual printed photographs - not digital) of just about all of the instruments we took into inventory. Even when he was alive, the thought/ suggestion of Stan writing a book was something that often came up. But, as we all to often see, there just wasn’t enough time and the idea never took off. Now that Eric and I are trying to empty the building of all this stuff, the need to do something with the Vintage News, catalogs and photos is greater and more important than ever. The thought of just storing it somewhere until the paper rots and disintegrates does not sit well with me (Im sure you all can understand!).
So, I ask if you loyal Mandolin Cafe readers, would you buy a book that contained the writing (the very informative and often humorous descriptions of fine fretted instruments) of Stan Jay? If so, does anyone out there know the best way to go about getting a book like this put together? Does anyone have any experience doing anything like that? Or, can anyone else think of something creative to do with it?
Thanks in advance - any advice would be very helpful!
-Alison
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