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You could ask the Atlanta Mandolin Orchestra: https://www.atlantamandolins.com/

They surely know able luthiers.

Check out this Blue Comet on Craigslist:

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/msg/d/portland-vintage-1932-blue-comet/7260017817.html

In pre-Covid days, I would have asked if I could play it. ...

I would think twice before gluing a bridge to the top.

You could ask the Orpheus Mandolin Orchestra, which is based in Bloomington/Normal: https://www.facebook.com/Orpheus-Mandolin-Orchestra-887327961344614/

Sorry about my posts. I figured one click on the links I provided would make everything instantly obvious. I now promise to explain better.

But back to this instrument, the seller apparently...

https://portland.craigslist.org/grg/msg/d/underwood-cigar-box-mandolin-string/7256808488.html

Again, I have to ask WHY?!

Looks like a mandolin, sort of. Strung like a uke, I guess. The first question has to be WHY?

https://portland.craigslist.org/clk/msg/d/vancouver-mandolina/7256602034.html

Hear, hear!

Here's a quick way to transpose to another key:

http://www.logue.net/xp/

Good call. Some adhesives give off a formaldehyde smell. Open air should take care of it.

My own daydream on the question: Violins have sound posts. I wonder what installing one in a mandolin would do for the sound.

That's really beautiful. I'm glad you have such good memories of your grandparents.

The beer is a nice touch!

The Ingles SA20 adjustable violin stand works really well for all mandolins except bowlbacks:
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You could ask the Atlanta Mandolin Orchestra: https://www.atlantamandolins.com/

Tea oil often is recommended to kill mold and mildew. So about 8 years ago, after I bought a 1914 Gibson A too long in a closed case, I decided to give tea oil a try. I stuffed 100 teabags into the...

I bought an old Geib case through the Mandolin Cafe classifieds -- $200, I believe. After I cleaned it up, I was good to go.

Any time a paid staff member knows less than I do after my brief research, I take it as a clue to leave. I'd say you made the right decision.

You could ask someone with

-- London Mandolin Orchestra: https://www.facebook.com/London-Mandolin-Orchestra-97999609916/

-- London Mandolin Ensemble: http://www.londonmandolinensemble.org.uk/...

More like a mandolin-shaped ukulele?

Someone with the Sarasota Mandolin Orchestra might have a lead:

http://www.sarasotamandolinorchestra.com/contact

After Blue Chip, my next-favorite are casein picks made by Red Bear. They behave quite a bit like tortoise shell (I have one old tortoise shell pick stashed. Don't tell anybody).

I own -- and play -- a 1914 Gibson A, a 1921 Bacon Artist and a 1925 Washburn/Lyon & Healy Style A Professional. I wouldn't trade any for an F.

Have you contacted StewMac or Amazon to raise these valid-sounding issues?

I bought a Polytune a couple years ago and find it much more accurate than a Snark:
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