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Gagewestbury - Posted - 07/17/2011: 15:45:01
Hey everyone. Wondering if I can get some help identifying this old bowl back Mandolin I found. Moved into a 230 year old house and found an old guitar and old mando in the attic. No one has lived here for 30 years so who the hell knows how old the Mandolin really is. There aren't really any identifiable marks on it other than the artwork. Also part of a serial number inside, looks like a stamp on parchment, just a '30'. It's pretty banged up but definitely restorable in my eyes. I look forward to taking it on as a project but would love to know what exactly I'm getting into. Neck is straight, no cracks on the face, and the head is fully intact. Thanks!
Gagewestbury - Posted - 07/17/2011: 15:50:36
Here are a few more pics.
Ben Venuti - Posted - 07/17/2011: 19:21:14
American made,and I would guess it's (+ -) 1900 as a year of manufacture, It's of no real value even pretty good ones that are American made rarely are worth more that a couple of hundred dollars.
Skyraider50 - Posted - 07/17/2011: 20:07:21
I believe that is the one i lost. If you would be so kind......I'll enclose my home address and maybe you could send it home? Many thanx!
Gagewestbury - Posted - 07/19/2011: 04:33:49
Great, thanks for the responses. Any idea what it may cost to restore it myself? Any good websites to get parts? I'm not looking to resell it, just want to make it playable unless it's going to cost me like $500. Otherwise I'll probably just hang it on the wall or something
StraitsBlueGal - Posted - 11/25/2011: 17:39:15
Hi, that looks a lot like the 'Mellor' brand (Pittsburgh PA) one that I just inherited and posted about. Similar cracked (bakelite? acrylic? celluloid?) pickguard area, similar head and tuners...
bigbike4 - Posted - 03/04/2012: 12:54:05
Any attempts at home repair would have to be done with great care and research. The main thing is that crack in the thin ribbing on the back. Yes it can be played as is, but chances are you will want to have that repaired. Then add a bridge and strings. Now as to play ability, well the neck might be twisted or need leveling , the pick guard can be left as it and will not affect playability. Besides tortiste shell is illegal at this point, although you can buy celluloid that looks like it. Be careful in what you do, as mandies are thin bodied and it don't take much to take it from a fair instrument to one that is ready for the trash pile.
jgarber - Posted - 03/08/2012: 20:22:22
That is a bottom of the line budget mandolin in pretty poor shape. The value is prob what you paid for it. :-) The crack in yhe bowl is really not too serious and you could prob put some wood glue in it and tie it up so it has time to dry, If it were a better quality instrument I would say, take it to a competent luthier and put some money into it. It looks to me that that pickguard is either a decal or painted on. I doubt there is any tortoise shell or celluloid in that pickguard. if you do get it together make sure you put very light gauge strings on it.
