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Thread: unknown vintage case

  1. #1
    wannabe mandolin wizzard bluesmandolinman's Avatar
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    Default unknown vintage case

    i was assuming this would fit a National mandolin but it is much too big

    so the body size is not rounded more triangulated so I wanted to ask what kind of instrument may be the original fit to this Bulls Head case

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    Carl Martin - Everyday I have the Blues

    My gear : 1927 A0/Ajr , JM-11 , Fender 346 white XH

  2. #2
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    Default Re: unknown vintage case

    Looking at the impression in the lid, something with four courses which didn’t fill it but lived off-centre towands the back edge.

  3. #3
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: unknown vintage case

    I'm going to guess that William Smith will chime in.

    I suspect that might fit a wide-body Gibson A-50
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    "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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  5. #4
    Likes quaint instruments poul hansen's Avatar
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    Default Re: unknown vintage case

    From the shape it could be a Waldzither. It's a bit to big for my Böhm.

    Are you selling?
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    Last edited by poul hansen; Oct-25-2022 at 6:25am.
    Kentucky KM-805..........2 Hora M1086 Portuguese II(1 in car)
    Hora M1088 Mandola.....
    Richmond RMA-110..... .Noname Bearclaw
    Pochette Franz Janisch...5 Pocket............Alfredo Privitera pocket
    Puglisi Pocket 1908........Puglisi 1912.......Puglisi 1917
    3 Mandolinetto ..............C.Garozzo
    1 Mandriola...................Cannelo G. Mandriola...Böhm Waldzither 1921
    Johs Møller 1945............Luigi Embergher Studio 1933
    Marma Seashell back......Luigi Embergher 5bis 1909

  6. #5
    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: unknown vintage case

    Well, one thing what is the depth of the inside and outside with lid closed? Is that red interior? Sorry I'm a tad red color blind! Is it missing the inside pocket or made without one? I never seen a vintage Gibson "mandolin-Dola" in a case like that, but it is period correct for pre-1925, right latches, interior, covering and notice the line around the top of the lid. Also, the lid is arched. I'd guess it's for a Mandola of some type based on measurements given. Steve Kirtly is the true expert on All cases and sometimes chimes in here or he does have a website or fakebook page, I think. It's very KOOL!

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  8. #6
    wannabe mandolin wizzard bluesmandolinman's Avatar
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    Default Re: unknown vintage case

    inside is red, inside pocket missing

    depth inside 7,5 ( measured only inside the bottom )
    depth outside 11cm ( top lid and bottom together )

    thanks for the advice on Steve Kirtly, i try to contact him via FB

    ha, just saw there is even a FB site only for vintage cases... let´s see what I can find out
    Carl Martin - Everyday I have the Blues

    My gear : 1927 A0/Ajr , JM-11 , Fender 346 white XH

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  10. #7
    Likes quaint instruments poul hansen's Avatar
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    Default Re: unknown vintage case

    Quote Originally Posted by bluesmandolinman View Post
    inside is red, inside pocket missing

    depth inside 7,5 ( measured only inside the bottom )
    depth outside 11cm ( top lid and bottom together )

    thanks for the advice on Steve Kirtly, i try to contact him via FB

    ha, just saw there is even a FB site only for vintage cases... let´s see what I can find out
    Vintage Musical Instrument Cases
    Kentucky KM-805..........2 Hora M1086 Portuguese II(1 in car)
    Hora M1088 Mandola.....
    Richmond RMA-110..... .Noname Bearclaw
    Pochette Franz Janisch...5 Pocket............Alfredo Privitera pocket
    Puglisi Pocket 1908........Puglisi 1912.......Puglisi 1917
    3 Mandolinetto ..............C.Garozzo
    1 Mandriola...................Cannelo G. Mandriola...Böhm Waldzither 1921
    Johs Møller 1945............Luigi Embergher Studio 1933
    Marma Seashell back......Luigi Embergher 5bis 1909

  11. #8
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: unknown vintage case

    It originally had a case pocket, you can see the lines.

    You can PM Steve on the Cafe as well, his name is Loudloar.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

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

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  13. #9

    Default Re: unknown vintage case

    Stahl (Larson made) Mandola?

    It is this one, I assume that was being sold by a seller that starts in the stratosphere although I see this one came down closer to planet earth!

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/32491286213...p2047675.l2557

  14. #10

    Default Re: unknown vintage case

    It is hard to work out the measurements as that tape measure appears to be randomly placed by the case to add to the intrigue. Here is one that may be too large and the owner has named it with two different terms:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwQNn89ue1M

    You can get a rough idea of the age from the detail of the Bull's Head Logo. F & F, 1920-1929 and then B & C after that for a while- looks like the former to me.

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  16. #11
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: unknown vintage case

    My first guess would be a National tenor guitar. My style #1 has the case below. Not exactly the same measurements: mine is 37” long and 15” wide but it might have been made for a different National instrument than mine, possibly a triplate tenor. Also mine may have been made by a different case company. I don’t see the usual Bulls Head stamp.
    ===========
    Correction: there is a Bull’s Head stamp on the back. It does resemble the OP’s case or close to it. My National tenor is from around 1929. I think this is pretty close to that one. I did try to take a photo of the stamp but it is near impossible to decipher it.

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    Last edited by Jim Garber; Oct-25-2022 at 10:01am.
    Jim

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  18. #12

    Default Re: unknown vintage case

    Here is that info from Steve Kirtley's website: http://www.stevekirtley.org/bullshead.htm

    Looking at the case, it appears that the body and the neck plus headstock are roughly the same length. Jim if you click on the eBay link I posted you can see the stamp but it is hard to decipher the letters which I think most likely are two Fs.

  19. #13

    Default Re: unknown vintage case

    This is described as a Stahl mandocello and its lower bout is given as 14 inches with a 24 inch scale length and about 3 3/8 deep. The more valuable the instrument then the more valuable the case will be so finding out what fits is important!

    https://reverb.com/item/32657196-cir...rson-bros-made

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  21. #14
    wannabe mandolin wizzard bluesmandolinman's Avatar
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    Default Re: unknown vintage case

    [QUOTE=Jim Garber;1882681]My first guess would be a National tenor guitar.

    I am with Jim here, you see those "shoulders" on the body part exactly on both cases... together with the triangulated body shape a National Tenor would be most likely the correct instrument, regarding the difference in lenght: Jims Tenor has that banjo type headstock. Later they changed it to mando/guitar shape which is smaller i think... so could explain the difference from 37 (Jim ) to 35,5 on mine ?

    Like this: Click image for larger version. 

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    Carl Martin - Everyday I have the Blues

    My gear : 1927 A0/Ajr , JM-11 , Fender 346 white XH

  22. #15
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: unknown vintage case

    Quote Originally Posted by Ray(T) View Post
    Looking at the impression in the lid, something with four courses which didn’t fill it but lived off-centre towands the back edge.
    Good point, Ray... below is a pic of the case lid for my National tenor. You can see the bridge cover indented into the top as well as the strings. Also here is a photo of the accessories pocket.

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    Jim

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