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Thread: Very Old Family Mandolin

  1. #26
    Registered User 8ch(pl)'s Avatar
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    I only suggested Vega because I had a mandolin banjo neck made by them with the same shape . I also have seen several Vega bowlbacks in my travel and noticed the similar shape on them.

  2. #27
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Glen:
    No need to apologize. I think many of us do agree that there is a similarity to the Vega headstock. Other aspects of this mandolin do not correspond to Vega. Vega also was fairly consistent in its styles of bowlbacks. Some of the larger Chicago companies, however, made large quantities of instruments under their own name or under others. Therefore, it is always a good bet to ascribe no-name instruments to Chicago companies: Lyon and Healy, Regal, Kay Harmony and the like.

    I do like to do the detective work on this. The more I look at these mandolins the less they all look alike.

    Jim
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  3. #28

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    Indeed, Glen. I thought your noting the similarity in headstock shape to some Vega pieces was worthy of thorough reply, and I intended no slight in my reply. I appreciated your thoughtful input.

  4. #29
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    I see NAT?ONL but I have not had my coffee yet
    Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.

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  5. #30
    Registered User 8ch(pl)'s Avatar
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    No offense taken and I wasn't apologizing. I learn a lot from these postings. It looks like Vega did some style copying as well. There is not a lot of instruments to look at in Nova Scotia, but I have seen a few old Vega Cylinder backs and Bowlbacks. Original Italian instruments, not common here.

    Have a Great Christmas everyone.

  6. #31
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    So.....has everyone agreed that we don't know what it is really but it's not terribly valuable and it may be from the early
    1900's? Sure has roused a bunch of discussion- I appreciate all your efforts! Sue

  7. #32

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    Exactly, Sue. I believe it is almost certainly American and possibly by Jersey City's Oscar Schmidt Co., but this latter bit is speculation.

  8. #33
    Registered User steve V. johnson's Avatar
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    Just out of curiosity...

    Do you folks know luthiers in Sue's part of CA who could close those cracks in her mandolin?

    Fascinating thread, thanks!

    stv
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  9. #34
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    What is her part of CA, Steve? I am sure that there is someone competent to do the work. As always, it always depenfs on how much it would cost to do the work.

    Jim
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  10. #35
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    San Diego area...I know a guy named Chris Camp out here..think I mentioned earlier - he builds guitars. Don't know anything more than that re: his craftsmanship. It's just hard to part with a family thing, but it's on my New Year "get it done" list!! My Dad recalls that this mandolin may have come from an anitique store (would have been late 50's or very early 60's if that's true) in Virginia now. I thought it had come from my grandparents. Ugh!

  11. #36
    Café habitué Paul Hostetter's Avatar
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    I buy Eugene's guess at Oscar Schmidt. The elongated bowl is part of my reasoning.

    Sue - contact me offlist (via the website link below this post) and I'll try and help you with luthiers around San Diego.
    .
    ph

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