Trying to figure out this Mandolin

[alekssdunn]

Hi All,

So I was given this mandolin by my father a few years ago but have no idea where it comes from, how old it is, etc. Supposedly it belonged to my grandfather so I think it goes back to the 60’s, but there’s no label on the inside, so markings that I know. Any thoughts?

[nmiller]

A guitar-shaped mandolin is called a mandolinetto; they were around from the late 19th century into the 1920s; stylistically, I'd put yours in the 1900-1920 area. Most of the ones I've come across were built by either Regal or Lyon and Healy, but this body shape is different from either of them. Just out of curiosity, what wood is the back made from?

[MikeEdgerton]

Howe-Orme made them as well but that style of headstock isn't popping up on my radar. That is a common mandolin headstock shape though.

[MikeEdgerton]

By the way, it's turn of the 1900's. It goes back before the 1960's by about 60 years.

[NickR]

A close up of the tuners- although they may have cover plates, might help. This sort of instrument was also made in Markneukirchen and sold in the UK by the various mandolin schools. Here is one made in Saxony in the early 1900s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcO1Pw8BLQk

[tonydxn]

The design on the scratchplate looks American rather than German to me. So do the ivoroid tuner buttons. I agree it's much older than 1960's - early 20th century. It probably only wants a new set of strings to get it playing. Get a very light set: 9-32 or thereabouts. I bet it will sound really nice.

[Bob A]

Before you string it up - with extra-light strings - check inside to make certain that the bracing is intact and secure.

[MikeEdgerton]

I'd bet the ranch it was made in the US.

[brunello97]

Do you have more photos of this you can post, Alexsdunn?

My esteemed colleagues have listed the usual suspects, but I agree this looks like it belongs to none of them.

The "Mickey's Big Mouth" soundhole and Big Bowlback Scratchplate sure make for a curiously proportioned version of a mandolin type already noted for their curious proportions.

Mick

BTW I've ridden Mike's South Jersey ranch. It is a nice one. However tempting, I wouldn't advise betting against him on this one.

[NickR]

I do agree that the tailpiece suggests it is from the USA- especially if it is a two piece example. Ostensibly, similar looking tailpieces from Germany are one piece- or the examples I have seen are. Here is a Bruno sold Vernon that Jake Wildwood worked on and there are plenty of similarities. However, he cannot give the maker.

https://jakewildwood.blogspot.com/20...dolinetto.html

[alekssdunn]

Hi All,

This is amazingly helpful. Here are a few more pictures. I don't know if they're any more helpful.

[NickR]

As I suspected- enclosed tuner units! Does the top of the tailpiece slide off- upwards, or is it hinged, or a one piece unit?

[alekssdunn]

It's hinged. When I get home I can try to open it up and take picture.

[NickR]

So, it is probably the same as on that Vernon. If it was a single piece unit combining the "wrist rest" aspect then it might be German. However, many instrument makers in the USA were of German origin and imported parts from the German instrument industry are very common. There was a 1920s Gebruder Schuster catalogue- a huge thing on ebay not so long ago- and this English language tome was for US retailers and manufacturers to buy from- one of the photos showed the various tailpieces and I am sure they were bought, as were inlays and other things- not least, completed instruments.

[alekssdunn]

It does seem pretty reminiscent of the Vernon you linked to. In fact it seems almost identical to this Bruno: http://www.retrofret.com/products.asp?ProductID=5678

But with a different headstock.

[MikeEdgerton]

Don't let the headstock take you too far off track. We had a very recent Bruno mandolin with that same headstock that was a latecomer to the bowlback world. It's a pretty common design. Chances are this was sold by a distributor as their own with no label. Bruno was a large distributor.

The tailpiece was a common piece used by many builders as were the tuners and the bridge. The pickguard (scratch plate whatever) might hold a key but perhaps not. The builders all bought from the same suppliers.

[brunello97]

What is interesting about this mandolinetto is the very curious body proportions.

The significantly smaller upper bout of the instrument is distinctly different from the Brunos et al that folks are posting.

As Mike suggests, the superficial appointments may show some similarities, but look closely at the shape of the body.

Mick

[soliver]

The Headstock reminds me of an old Martin mandolin.

[alekssdunn]

I’ll have a few more pictures for you all tomorrow morning of the tailpiece (it is a hinge) and the bracing. I’m a bass player by trade so my knowledge of important features on a mandolin are limited.

Out of curiosity any idea what the value might be? I’m assuming as is, roughly $75-$100 but that might be too high or too low.

Thanks so much for the help so far!

[Graham McDonald]

Here is an Allison with a similar body shape. My notes have it as "1899 Mandolin by Stephen O. Allison A Presentation Instrument by Stephen O. Allison, St. Louis Signed and dated Nov 14, 1899 Flamed Mahogany back and sides Pearl and Abalone fingerboard Abalone trimmed with tortoise shell inlaid pickguard Gold Wash engraved silver metal parts Original hand tooled leather case Ivory binding. Pearl Tuner Buttons X Braced 13.25 inch scale length" In Lowell Levinger's collection

[alekssdunn]

Here are a few more photos that may or may not be helpful.

[Seter]

Did it come with a case? Not having a readily identifiable maker subtracts some value, but it does have a nicely figured back. If it's internal structural integrity is okay I would restring it with GHS ultralights (A240) and see how it plays to get a better idea of value.

[brunello97]

Here is an Allison with a similar body shape. My notes have it as "1899 Mandolin by Stephen O. Allison A Presentation Instrument by Stephen O. Allison, St. Louis Signed and dated Nov 14, 1899 Flamed Mahogany back and sides Pearl and Abalone fingerboard Abalone trimmed with tortoise shell inlaid pickguard Gold Wash engraved silver metal parts Original hand tooled leather case Ivory binding. Pearl Tuner Buttons X Braced 13.25 inch scale length" In Lowell Levinger's collection

I like the "full cover" scratchplate on this one Graham. Really a good design decision to my eye.

Mick

[alekssdunn]

Here are some pictures of the case it came in, although old I can't vouch for it being the original case.

[NickR]

I would imagine your case is for an A style mandolin and is far too large for your mandolinetto. A Gibson A style case that is made of chipboard is approximately 11 inches wide. I have one that also has that purple interior retailed in 1937 and it is original to the instrument which has a Gibson factory code showing it was made in 1936. Your case looks as though it has been painted black at some stage- the metal ware being black! I have other chipboard cases from the 20s or 30s which are 10 inches wide. Mandolins rattle around in these cases- they are never a snug fit even if they are "correct" for the instrument.