Cheap mandolins/ replicas/ props

[DramaLlama]

Hi everyone!
I am currently trying to source two mandolins for a stage show. My difficulty is that they are all rather expensive for our budget!
The cheapest I have found is around 50. But we need two for that price ideally. They don’t necessarily even need to be able to make a sound! Fake or rubber strings, perhaps used for a model would be fine for my purpose.
They also need to be convincingly ‘period’. The show is set in the 18th/19th century so although they don’t have to look ‘old’ they do have to look passable for that period.
They also ideally need to both very similar or at least look like they ‘match’.

Could anyone here point me in the right direction? I am also UK based and they seem much more popular in US generally so maybe this is why I’m not having too much luck sourcing (very) reasonably priced ones!

Many thanks in advance!

[MikeEdgerton]

I was going to suggest your local Craig's List but I see you're in the UK. Try your local flea markets. You don't need anything that is spectacular.

[Rob Meldrum]

Look up a nearby mandolin orchestra, call the director and see if anyone can loan you a couple of old mandolins. Or use your version of Craigslist or ebay. You should be able to find unplayable instruments within your budget. Good luck!

[Folkmusician.com]

This is going to be tough. It will cost more than $50 to ship them, so that means you likely need to find them locally. $25 for an unplayable mandolin is realistic and if there was no hurry, I think it could be done. Finding two similar ones in a short period of time?

[colorado_al]

I'd contact Dave Hynds and see if he has any beyond repair that he can send your way. Or perhaps he can put you on the trail where you might find some
http://www.mandolinluthier.com/

[OneChordTrick]

Try Gumtree. If this link works you can find 2 for £45. https://www.gumtree.com/search?featu...t_first&page=1