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 ARCHIVED TOPIC: Help identify a vintage mandolin, strange shape East European


Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.mandohangout.com/archive/37657

digdown2001 - Posted - 05/16/2014:  04:16:57

Hi all,



My first post here, I'm hoping you guys can help me with this interesting old mandolin. I cannot find any names or numbers on it, except for D.R.G.M. on the tuners, which from what I can tell is a first Reich patent, please see the images and let me know if this is an interesting piece or not - tiger maple back and sides, I think it's a spruce top, the pegs ont he tuners are deer antler, and I cannot tell what the binding is, but it's beautiful. I don't believe the case is original to the mandolin, as the support does not reach the neck.....Thanks guys!!



Steve



 



 



 






digdown2001 - Posted - 05/16/2014:  04:20:17

Some more images....



 






digdown2001 - Posted - 05/16/2014:  04:23:05

And the back of the headstock and one last one of the body from the front....






Ben Venuti - Posted - 05/16/2014:  08:55:02

My guess would be German, which could be considered Eastern Europe depending on where your standing. Maybe even Italian but the violin shape is more in the wide bodied German style than the high arched Italian. If your going to copy a violin why not copy it? --it would be revolutionary if it had f holes! I've seen a couple of other mandolins based on a violin body shape. I'm actually surprised that there weren't more. This thing is as much a mandolinetto as it is a mandolin. The question I have is--is it possible that this mandolin predates Orville Gibson's arched top mandolin patent? It looks old maybe-- even that old. Very cool thing --how does it play/sound?

Jim Yates - Posted - 05/16/2014:  15:12:33

I have put a few of your photos on a mandolin Facebook page with a request.  I'll forward any info I get. 

Are you the same Steve Nunn with a couple of very cool Gretsch guitars on your Facebook page?


digdown2001 - Posted - 05/17/2014:  17:31:43

Thanks guys!! Yes, that would be me, the spider taxonomist :) Love my Gretsch guitars!!

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