Need assistance with identifying bowlback!

[Mike1616]

hey all,

New to the cafe and this is my first post! I got this mando handed down to my from my grandmother when she died about 5 years ago. It belonged to her grandpa, and that man's father moved to the USA from Czechoslovkia in the early 1900's so i'm guessing the age on this thing is pretty old and may not even be American? I have no idea. Restrung it today but took some photos before doing that.

The only thing about this mandolin is that there is no brand name, serial number, no anything on any part of the mandolin. not on the headstock, not looking in the oval, not anywhere. So I have no idea who made it, what the actual value is (though it's priceless to me as a family heirloom), etc. May be a pretty generically made but that's fine! just love to research the heritage of these instruments.

Based on similar posts i'm thinking 1920's era - but again, i'm unfamiliar with any brands back then and the mando itself is no help in my research haha! Any direction is appreciated!

[Peter Coronado]

Be sure to use only extra light strings to prevent damaging the instrument.

[Mike1616]

Thanks for the tip! Got some on there now. Tone is great on this thing

[MikeEdgerton]

It's American, most likely built in Chicago by Lyon and Healy circa 1920 or so, maybe a little earlier. It's an entry level mandolin. There's a chance it might have been made by one of the other Chicago based builders but it looks like a solid Lyon and Healy candidate.