Re: The Stanley bowl mando ID
In the Mugwumps Index of American Fretted Instrument Makers, "Stanley" is listed as a "Baehr & Bro. brandname," and "Baehr & Bro., Eugene" is listed as "NY City, 1897-98." Here's a PDF of an article from Music Trade Review (1898) about Eugene Baehr & Bro. on 14th Street in New York. However, the article doesn't say whether the company actually built the instruments, or just distributed them.
There were many firms that got involved in selling mandolins and other stringed instruments during the height of the instrument's popularity in the 1890-1920 era. Some of them built and sold them, some sold instruments built by other firms, and some did a bit of each. Apparently Eugene Baehr and his brother Herman were modestly successful selling mandolins -- which could also have been built by one of the many NY City luthiers of the period.
Eugene Baehr patented a design for a mandolin in 1898, with the distinctive feature being a headstock with all the tuners on one side. Doesn't look at all like the one you have.
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
Bookmarks