Dennis Russell - Posted - 04/27/2012:  20:39:53

What is the value of a 1897  washburn Mandolin?                                 Dennis  in Arizona

Buttonwood Bob - Posted - 04/28/2012:  10:15:03

Tell us something about the instrument anent model, condition, and more, if you know. With that information, I can't make much of a contribution though I am looking forward to what those who can have to say. That's an old one, for sure. :-)

Dennis Russell - Posted - 04/28/2012:  11:42:14

Hello Bob;  I havent got the Mandolin in my posseision yet  I just bought it for $125, an old freind I used to jam with owned it I never knew he owned a mandolin, he was a fiddler, he died in 2004  he was 97 years old. His Daughter wrote me a short letter last week informing her dad had this old wshburn Mandolin they found in a old case under h  i 

Dennis Russell - Posted - 04/28/2012:  11:47:02

This Computer just locked up on me   second time now, brand newASUS   too much money the tech who sold it to me said it will work out its own kinks  but not so far, I was trying to say that this old buddy of mine his daughter sold me this old washburn, I just sent her the money today it should be arriving next week I was just wondering what the value was, I know a guy here in this town that iheretid a 1927 Washburn Banjo   said it was worth quite a bit, so that is why I asked....................Dennis in Az

Jim Yates - Posted - 04/28/2012:  15:08:29

Is it anything like this one?   mandoweb.com/Instruments/Washb...-1897/846

Or this one?   liveauctioneers.com/item/6857483

A bit of googling seems to indicate that many of these old Washburn mandolins had 1897 on the label and this does not necessarily indicate the year of manufacture, but possibly the model number.

Edited by - Jim Yates on 04/28/2012 15:14:34

Ben Venuti - Posted - 04/28/2012:  18:19:00

A Washburn 1897, which is the model number isn't worth much. There just doesn't seem to be much interest in American made bowl backed mandolins, even the really over the top fancy ones. Not much interest in European ones either except for Embergers and a few others of that quality that classical mandolin players like and those can be worth quite a lot. The 1897 is a pretty plain mandolin and worth maybe a couple of hundred bucks in good condition. That first one in the above post seems to me to be a fishing expedition the second one is closer to the mark as far as value goes.

Dennis Russell - Posted - 05/03/2012:  16:40:50

I just received the mandolin, it is the second photo posted by Bill yates, but it is is in excellent condition just like new no flaws or cracks or scratches anywher has a very nice finish all over the mandolin, going to tune it up and play a no or two, The case was specially made it is new type leather not naugahyde almost leather with a zipper in very good condition..............................................DEnnis in Arizona

Dennis Russell - Posted - 05/03/2012:  16:40:54

I just received the mandolin, it is the second photo posted by Bill yates, but it is is in excellent condition just like new no flaws or cracks or scratches anywher has a very nice finish all over the mandolin, going to tune it up and play a no or two, The case was specially made it is new type leather not naugahyde almost leather with a zipper in very good condition..............................................DEnnis in Arizona

Dennis Russell - Posted - 05/03/2012:  16:40:54

I just received the mandolin, it is the second photo posted by Bill yates, but it is is in excellent condition just like new no flaws or cracks or scratches anywher has a very nice finish all over the mandolin, going to tune it up and play a no or two, The case was specially made it is new type leather not naugahyde almost leather with a zipper in very good condition..............................................DEnnis in Arizona

Dennis Russell - Posted - 05/03/2012:  16:40:55

I just received the mandolin, it is the second photo posted by Bill yates, but it is is in excellent condition just like new no flaws or cracks or scratches anywher has a very nice finish all over the mandolin, going to tune it up and play a no or two, The case was specially made it is new type leather not naugahyde almost leather with a zipper in very good condition..............................................DEnnis in Arizona

Dennis Russell - Posted - 05/03/2012:  16:44:42

I just received the Mandolin:  it is the the second one posted by Jim  Yates it is in excellent condition no scratches or cracks anywhere on the instrument as if it was brand new, it has a nice leather type case with a zipper, going to tune it up and play one or two tunes....................Dennis in Arizona 

Dennis Russell - Posted - 05/03/2012:  16:49:14

second time my computer went on the wack I ckicked on  POST REPLY and nothing happened second time nothing happened I waited a moment nothing, so I retyped another message only this time I got several repeats has any one ever had this happen