"The Waverly" Potato Bug Mandolin-Any Info?

[buddha2122]

Hello, New to the forums, I just picked up an old, looks to be around the 20's, potato bug mandolin. The only markings I can find are a small piece of wood inside the bowl that says, "The Waverly". I'll post some pics later today. Anyone know anything about these? thanks in advance

[buddha2122]

Here's some pics of "The Waverly" Potato Bug Mandolin

[allenhopkins]

Well, Waverly's made hardware -- tuners and tailpieces -- for mandolins for a long time, starting in the late 19th century. I haven't seen a mandolin labeled "The Waverly" before, though a Waverly-labeled mandolin being sold on eBay UK does come up in Google search.

What you have is a pretty ordinary bowl-back, not much ornamentation (late-19th-early-20th-century bowl-backs often had extensive inlay and purling), a smaller number of ribs in the bowl, "plain Jane" un-engraved tuners. Tailpiece is a standard period catalog item. Looks like the celluloid pick guard's curling up a bit, and there's a bit of finish "checking" on the headstock.

That said, seems structurally OK, no evident cracks. You'll need a bridge, and the top should be checked for sinkage, and the neck-body joint for soundness and non-forward-pulling. Might be a decent player, but doesn't appear to be a real "find."

Later: here's a Banjo Hangout thread about a similarly-labeled banjo. Discussion seems to speculate that the instrument was made for Waverly by another maker, since Waverly didn't themselves build instruments. You'll have to evaluate the strength of that argument...

[DavidKOS]

duplicate

[DavidKOS]

Discussion seems to speculate that the instrument was made for Waverly by another maker, since Waverly didn't themselves build instruments. You'll have to evaluate the strength of that argument...

It looks like a typical Chicago made mandolin of the period, jobbed out to be labeled and sold as "The Waverly". It may predate the Waverly that makes parts, since they were founded in 1918 and this mandolin may be older. Or not!

" Might be a decent player, but doesn't appear to be a real "find.""

Exactly. Nothing really special, but it may sound good if it can be properly restored to playing condition.

[JeffD]

I would only add that if it is in good condition and can be played, if it is "a decent player" it could make someone very happy for a very long time. A mandolin doesn't need to be a "find" of course, to be a wonderful thing to own.

[DavidKOS]

JeffD's right, as a matter of fact, those simple old bowl backs are often quite nice to play when restored, and certainly compare musically with new mandolins in the price range.