I am looking for brand information and year of my vintage mandolin. Has serial number 7358306 stamped in the back of it. Could also be an h instead of an 8.
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I am looking for brand information and year of my vintage mandolin. Has serial number 7358306 stamped in the back of it. Could also be an h instead of an 8.
Pictures of the item. Sorry new user...:cool:
Post some photos. Number means little without a clue.
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I just did. I am sorry. I did not know how at first.
Don’t worry, you’re by no means alone! Welcome to the forum. Relatively inexpensive instrument, much newer tailpiece and tuners; what’s that beneath the bridge?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mobileflight
I think it’s just the light on it. Any idea what it is or what year it is?
It looks like those birch flattops that were sold in batches wholesale circa 1930s probably made by Regal to be sold to retailers.
Awesome!!! Thanks a lot!!!!
I think it is a Harmony mandolin- a style made first in the 1930s but yours has been modified and has lost its original tuners which would have helped date it. Here below is one branded as "Stella by Harmony" and it is in original condition which is probably a bit newer than your mandolin which as Jim suggests may well have been sold by a third party- such as Supertone. I have uploaded a page from the 1937 Sears Supertone catalogue and a mandolin like yours is at the bottom left- its "pickguard" is sprayed on paint!
Attachment 189005Attachment 189006
Here is one of those Supertone mandolins stripped down for sale:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/293761746347
Out of interest, here is the very similar Regal mandolin from the same era but not made for decades like the Harmony version. The most obvious difference is the top edge of the headstuck- dipping in rather than having that little wave or peak you see on the Harmony made version. The Regal in this auction has its original tuners- oblong plates and I would imagine yours had the same shape of tuner and tailpiece- you might see the shadow of the tuner units on the back of the headstock. There is every likelihood that your mandolin was made in the 1930s.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-8-S...MAAOSw5d9fd1oV
Definitely not the light on it - it looks like some sort of shim. There’s no problem with a shim as long as it’s a solid piece of wood but that looks to be soething like felt which will kill the sound.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mobileflight