Re: Stella Mandolin
What do you mean by "inlay?" Is it the inlaid piece around and below the soundhole? That's the "pickguard" or "finger rest" or "scratchplate", depending on nomenclature.
It's almost certainly black celluloid, a type of plastic that has a tendency to deteriorate with age, inlaid with a contrasting design. I thought initially the light inlay might have been mother-of-pearl, but on second look, it's probably another man-made material. I assume it's the celluloid that's crumbling.
It's not impossible, though perhaps expensive, to get another pickguard made (if that's the part to which you're referring). You could get a plain black celluloid of the same or similar shape. Don't know the feasibility of reproducing the inlay; you seem to think it's wood, which would be do-able if you or your restorer has the skill.
The restoration cost (and I don't know who'd be doing it; perhaps others have some suggestions) would almost certainly exceed the value of the mandolin, which was a mid-level instrument at best and has extensive top wear -- someone surely played the potatoes out of it, back in the day.
The other "easy fix" -- and I expect others will chastise me for suggesting it -- would be to get some adhesive-backed clear vinyl, such as is sometimes used for "pickguards" on classical/flamenco guitars, and just cover the existing pickguard, sealing in the old material and preventing it from crumbling away. This is a jerry-rig expedient, but has the virtue of being inexpensive.
I may be wrong about the location of the deterioration, and other materials than celluloid were also used for pickguards glued to the top, but that's my 2¢ take on it.
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
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