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Thread: Unknown archtop mandolin from USA ?

  1. #1

    Default Unknown archtop mandolin from USA ?

    Hello Guys,

    I would like to ask you, if you had any idea where is it come from. I bought it in Hungary, and I was told, that it had been made in the United States.
    I haven't found anything with such special holes.
    Something from the 50's ?

    Thank you very much for any help.

    Szabolcs - Budapest
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  2. #2
    Registered User nmiller's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown archtop mandolin from USA ?

    That's a very European-looking mandolin. I can believe it's from the '50s, but I strongly doubt it was made in the US.
    www.OldFrets.com: the obscure side of vintage instruments.

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  4. #3
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown archtop mandolin from USA ?

    In the 30's Harmony used a similar f hole on their Roy Smeck Vita instruments but this isn't the same and wasn't made in the US. In other words, this isn't one of them. If I had to hazard a guess I would guess possibly Germany as the country of origin.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
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    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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  6. #4

    Default Re: Unknown archtop mandolin from USA ?

    The shape of the body and the headstock is quite similar to a Radiotone which I think was British made. They have an extra soundboard 8nderneath the top.

    I could be wrong but it does have that shape.

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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown archtop mandolin from USA ?

    Looks like German made esp with the slotted head stock. Seems similar to Framus or Hofner.
    Jim

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  9. #6
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown archtop mandolin from USA ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    Looks like German made esp with the slotted head stock. Seems similar to Framus or Hofner.
    That what I think as well. The other telltale sign is the zero fret. It's not American. I haven't seen a Radiotone with a slotted headstock. Here are some pictures of those. I don't think the OP's is squat enough for the Radiotone now that I'm looking at it. They seem to have a very unique body shape but hey, I'm no expert on that marque. The OP's does have the same shape on the bottom end of the fretboard though. Curious. Jimmy, do you have access to any early catalogs?
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
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    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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  11. #7
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown archtop mandolin from USA ?

    This one? Identified as Cremona 545' by master builder Bräuer.

    So: German origin, apparently, as Mike E and Jim G opined.
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  12. #8
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown archtop mandolin from USA ?

    I don't know if OP's is quite that ornate but it sure looks the same on most of the details. I'd say you got the builder.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown archtop mandolin from USA ?

    Proportions of the soundholes to body look a bit different but pretty close. Here is the one on the blog:

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    Jim

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  15. #10
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown archtop mandolin from USA ?

    The OP's f holes are not bound and are probably cut on the same jig. It's close no matter what.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  16. #11
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown archtop mandolin from USA ?

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    The OP's f holes are not bound and are probably cut on the same jig. It's close no matter what.
    Actually if you blow it up to full size you can see that the OP's are bound. However, I do agree that the overall design even to the fretboard end is the same or very similar.

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    Jim

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  17. #12

    Default Re: Unknown archtop mandolin from USA ?

    Thanks a lot ! Beutiful tunes you have on soundcloud ! All the best Szabolcs Lábos

  18. #13

    Default Re: Unknown archtop mandolin from USA ?

    Thanks a lot, this one is very similar, and Cremona is wide-spread in Hungary.

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  20. #14

    Default Re: Unknown archtop mandolin from USA ?

    Bräuer was a maker from Schonbach in Czechoslovakia. After WW2, most ethnic Germans were expelled and this included the ethnic Germans behind Hofner, Hoyer and Framus who started again in West Germany. The town is now called Luby and manufacturing did resume after WW2- Schonbach had been the second largest maker of string instruments in the world behind Chicago in the top spot. Most of what was made after WW2 was fairly cheap as the industry had been nationalised by the new Communist regime but some decent instruments were made on a small scale. I have two guitars sold in England in the 1930s by John Dallas as Martin Coletti models- they are made of superb wood and extremely well made- one is basically a Nick Lucas knock off and they were most likely made by Brauer. Here is an old zither for sale below. It has the Brauer label inside giving the location as Schonbach in Bohemia- what is now the Czech Republic. The ethnic Germans called it the Egerland- the label states EGER IN BOHMEN.
    https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...ing-1807601246

    Here is info on Cremona and the Czech co-operatives on Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strunal_CZ,_a.s.

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  22. #15
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown archtop mandolin from USA ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    Actually if you blow it up to full size you can see that the OP's are bound. However, I do agree that the overall design even to the fretboard end is the same or very similar.

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    That's what I get for not blowing it up.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  23. #16
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown archtop mandolin from USA ?

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    That's what I get for not blowing it up.
    Baaaaaaa-dooooom!
    Jim

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