pacardullo - Posted - 09/20/2011:  20:20:13

I just picked up this mandolin-banjo on eBay [gallery]. Best guess is that it is from around the 1920s-30s. It is in relatively good shape, except for the tailpiece, which is missing three hooks. (I think/hope I can replace it with this scallop shell one.)

There are no maker's marks or other identifiers on the instrument at all. The only identifier at all is a faint embossed mark on the case that looks a little like an inverted peace sign w/ what looks like an "L" on one side and a "C" or "G" on the other.

Anyone have any thoughts on possible make/model?

OTbanjopicker - Posted - 09/21/2011:  22:12:21

The style of headstock leads me to believe that it is a Vega. But the pot doesn't look vegaish to me....but i could be wrong. as for the logo on the case. not really sure maybe lyon and healy? that could be what this mandolin is. however im sticking with vega. And that taileice on elderly will work great on there. they are made just for your type of situation!

pacardullo - Posted - 09/22/2011:  05:31:10

Cool. Thanks for the info. It gives me a place to start looking.

My neighbor is an artist who does metalwork. She said she may be able to fix the existing tailpiece for me, but it is good to know the scalloped one should work in the interim.

Ben Venuti - Posted - 09/22/2011:  11:05:57

The markings on the case could only identify the maker of the case and have nothing to do with who made the mandolin. The headstock in particular has that "made in Chicago" look.. There were countless jobbers producing instruments for the trade in Chicago, these often had no identifiable marks so that the distributor (which could have been even just a store) could put their own label on it. L&H were pretty good at signing their work and machine/metal work on Vegas were much more refined than that one appears to be. They also usually had some identifying mark, like on the brace. Brits made a lot of banjo mandolins so you can't rule that out.