This was my husband's and I know nothing about it but believe it to be quite old. It has the serial number 5041. I'd be grateful if anyone can tell me the year of manufacture and anything else about it.
Many thanks, Chris H.
This was my husband's and I know nothing about it but believe it to be quite old. It has the serial number 5041. I'd be grateful if anyone can tell me the year of manufacture and anything else about it.
Many thanks, Chris H.
Is that a National label on the headstock? The tuners are not original to the instrument.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
It's a Dobro brand resonator mandolin, I used to own one, looks to be a 1933 California made by the serial number.
THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!
No it's a sticker from a shop in Liverpool - Hesslers I think. The serial number shows through it.
Thanks for the reply.
Thanks. I thought it was about that period.
My Chicago-made Dobro mandolin has no serial number. This 2010 thread[/U] discusses an electrified resonator mandolin with a similar cover-plate design.
Is the tailpiece engraved? And is their a stamp in the cover-plate mentioning the "National Dobro Co."? That would narrow down the year of manufacture.
This Vintage Guitars page references Dobro serial numbers, though it's focused on metal-bodied Dobro guitars. I'd be definite on "1930's," vaguer on a more specific years.
Dobro was a company started by two of the Dopyera brothers who were dissatisfied with the National Guitar Co., the originators of the resonator guitar, and left National to start their own firm. After prolonged squabbling over patent issues -- Dobro came up with a resonator design that differed from National's -- the two companies merged in the mid-'30's, and located to Chicago. Mandolins of this design were labeled Dobro, and also Regal, who built the wood bodies for Dobro.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
Hi Allen, thanks for this. There is no National logo, only the two Dobro logos and no carving on the tailgate.
Would you be able to give me any idea of the value of the instrument?
Thanks again.
I'd guesstimate $500-750, though I see asking prices over $1K. I paid $250 for mine, but that was a quarter-century ago. Depending on condition, of course.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
The sold prices on these are all over the place.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Thanks
Gruhn's ID book lists this as a Dobro "Mandolin No. 5." This model was made from 1929 to 1933.
Many thanks
The price will also depend upon where in the world you are. I think people are assuming you're in the US but, if the instrument is still in Liverpool or elsewhere in the UK, it'll be worth considerably more.
Hessy's was a famous Liverpool music shop which closed in the 80's and supplied the Beatles amongst other Merseybeat groups. I've had a 1930's Kalamazoo (Gibson)Guitar with a Hessy's label so they were an important Dealer in their time to be importing from the USA.
Good to know. Thanks
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