Built right around 1900, probably before 1915. Bill Monroe bought his mandolin in a Barber Shop as well.
Somebody may be able to pop up a catalog page. It's a very good chance that it was labeled SS Stewart and built by one of the major builders. One of the resident bowlheads will be along to add to the story.
In the meantime there are many threads about S.S. Stewart instrument here. They put that name on a ton of different instruments over the years.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
BTW, this one still sounds and plays great.
After Samuel Stewart died (1898), his trademark got passed around a few times; also, his sons' names got put on a variety of instruments. I briefly owned a "Fred Stewart" tenor banjo that looked pretty much like a prewar Epiphone budget model.
Devoid of mandolin content, there's a fairly fascinating article on identifying and dating S S Stewart banjos, on the Mugwumps website. It's neat to trace the twists and turns, and also neat to think that some people care enough to do the research and publish it afterwards.
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
When I saw this I thought it was a thread about a Steam Ship?
Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
Arches #9 A Style (2005)
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Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)
"Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"
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