Re: Dobro mandolin age?
If the engraving below the bridge says "Licensed by National Dobro Corp.", as mine does, the instrument would probably date between July 1935, when National and Dobro officially merged, and WWII, when the company reorganized as Valco.
These mandolins in general had wood bodies built by Regal, and resonator hardware made by Dobro or National Dobro. Many of them had the "moon and stars" cover plate over the resonator cone; some had f-holes in the upper bout like yours, some had round holes with screen inserts, like mine. They can be found labeled "Dobro," with the lyre decal, or "Regal," with a blue oval decal with a crown.
I've not seen one with a serial number. If there were one, it would likely be stamped into the top of the headstock, which is generally where National serial numbers are found. Dobro and Regal weren't big on serial numbers.
Your tuners are a bit different from mine; my tuner "strips" are square ended, yours have the little "scoop" at the end. Don't know if this is a means of dating the two instruments. Other than the different tuners, and the f-holes vs. screen holes, your mandolin and mine are identical.
Allen Hopkins
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