Re: looking for info on recently acquired family mandolin
A Brandt-designed Lyon & Healy Style A headstock, with a much more refined scroll but the same basic tuner arrangement, is pictured on p. 120 of Pleijsier's Washburn Pre-War Instrument Styles. (The Style A was a flat-back, rather than a bowl-back, mandolin.) Brandt's patent drawing for his headstock/tuner arrangement is reproduced on p. 123.
Pleijsier describes Brandt as "one of the many smaller instrument makers in Chicago" in the early 20th century. A Brandt mandolin is a bit of a rarity, but not super-in-demand (cf. Larson Brothers for super-in-demand rare instruments).
IMHO this mandolin's value is dependent on your evaluation of its family history connection. I inherited a B & J Victoria bowl-back, found in my grandfather's attic. It needed some top crack glueing, otherwise pretty sound. I wanted to play an instrument that my granddad's second wife had played, so I got it fixed up, and 45 years later I still play it now and then. Was it worth the cost of the repair/restoration? Heck, I don't care; it was worth it to me.
Allen Hopkins
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