Mystery mandolin: do you know what this is?

[don_wendorf@yahoo. com]

Does anyone know what this mandolin is? It almost looks like a mandolin with a banjo-like resonator at the bottom, although it is all one piece, all wood, not a banjo mandolin. The little holes have a very fine wire mesh in them. Also, any ideas on what type wood this is? Any idea of worth?

[pops1]

I have seen them on ebay frequently, Blue Comet if I remember.

[tonydxn]

I believe these were sold under various names, including Blue Comet and Regal Artistic Resonator. Some more information here https://reverb.com/item/3780620-arti...mandolin-c1940 There is one on eBay at the moment that needs fixing up, struggling to find a buyer at $100.

You can find sound samples if you search on YouTube

[MikeEdgerton]

They were also sold under the name Beltone. They are on eBay weekly. Many fail to sell. Value is not a whole lot, do a happy dance if you can get $200.00 for it. The general consensus is they look cooler than they sound.

This one sold on eBay recently for $135.00.

This one recently sold on eBay for $73.00.

Same mandolin as yours.

[don_wendorf@yahoo. com]

Thank you for the information. Looks like you nailed it. I will pass this info on to my friend who owns the one I pictured.

[Jim Garber]

The one I had was labeled Medalist. Mine was all laminated wood. Sounded like it. The guy who bought it from me at a guitar show said Howard Armstrong played one.

[Jess L.]

The one I had was labeled Medalist. Mine was all laminated wood. Sounded like it. The guy who bought it from me at a guitar show said Howard Armstrong played one.

It's possible he could have, who knows. I *do* know that he said he preferred instruments with pickups (even though some of the revivalists didn't always permit him to play electric), and it's my understanding that laminates can actually be advantageous for electric instruments (less feedback in loud situations).

[Verne Andru]

... it's my understanding that laminates can actually be advantageous for electric instruments (less feedback in loud situations).

Mine as well. That's why Gibson moved to laminates on their expensive jazz boxes.