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Thread: Hoping to Identify this Beauty

  1. #1

    Default Hoping to Identify this Beauty

    Hello! I am trying to find more information about this mandolin with DeArmond pick up, as I am trying to help the owner sell it. Looks homemade. Any info out there or resources I could reference? Thank you!
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  2. #2
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hoping to Identify this Beauty

    That mandolin was sold in the 1930s by an East Coast company under several different brand names: Beltone, Blue Bird, a couple more. The pickup and electronics were added later.
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

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  4. #3
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hoping to Identify this Beauty

    It's easily identified. They were sold, as Martin has said under many brand names. They are for sale daily on the Internet. The pickup might be a little more valuable than the mandolin which isn't very valuable. If you'd like to see some pictures and find more that are similar look at these images or these images. Your beauty has been modified and that isn't going to help the value. They were most likely made by Oscar Schmidt and/or their successor United in Jersey City, NJ. It appears the finish was stripped off and someone added tarp grommets to the f holes. That didn't come from the factory like that. I suspect they were sold after the 30's as well due to the large number of laminated mahogany finished models (yours isn't mahogany).
    "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
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hoping to Identify this Beauty

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    It appears the finish was stripped off and someone added tarp grommets to the f holes. That didn't come from the factory like that.
    Heh, well, the one in the treble F hole is the input jack; the one in the bass F hole matches the ones in the rim! But there are also smaller grommets in the other ends of both F holes.
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

    Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!

    Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls

  7. #5
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hoping to Identify this Beauty

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    Heh, well, the one in the treble F hole is the input jack; the one in the bass F hole matches the ones in the rim! But there are also smaller grommets in the other ends of both F holes.
    The one I had years ago was all laminated woods. Funky sound. I would like one with an illustration of Wallace and Grommet.
    Jim

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  8. #6

    Default Re: Hoping to Identify this Beauty

    Gromit

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  10. #7
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hoping to Identify this Beauty

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    Heh, well, the one in the treble F hole is the input jack; the one in the bass F hole matches the ones in the rim! But there are also smaller grommets in the other ends of both F holes.
    And now you know what they used on the rim as well.

    And now you too can add them to your instrument of choice, available in many sizes and finishes.

    In a different period of my life I repaired tents, tarps, and boat covers.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

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

  11. #8
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hoping to Identify this Beauty

    Wallace and Grommit.
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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"
    --J. Garber

  12. #9
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hoping to Identify this Beauty

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    The one I had years ago was all laminated woods. Funky sound. I would like one with an illustration of Wallace and Grommet.
    I intentionally misspelled the dog’s name for the joke.
    Jim

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    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  13. #10

    Default Re: Hoping to Identify this Beauty

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    I intentionally misspelled the dog’s name for the joke.
    A riveting discussion, for sure.

  14. #11

    Default Re: Hoping to Identify this Beauty

    Hmm, looks full of holes to me.

    Dave H
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  15. #12

    Default Re: Hoping to Identify this Beauty

    As already mentioned, these were made by United in the 40s and 50s and some were sold with the United brand- all the others appear to have been Peter Sorkin brands-Blue Comet, Medalist, Royalty are common- and were not made by Regal which is now "received wisdom" courtesy of an erroneous Wiki entry for Blue Comet. Your example has been modified- the headstock has been reshaped. Here is one in original condition.

    https://reverb.com/item/274285-blue-...-mandolin-used

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