Interesting Reverse Scroll on NY CL

[Nevin]

I don't know much about these but it does look kind of cool.
http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/msg/4309563922.html
Not sure why I peruse CL when I don't have any money to spare.

[allenhopkins]

It's a Regal, sold by Buegeleisen & Jacobson (B&J), big NY distributor, and labeled "Victoria." I have a B&J Victoria bowl-back which could well be a Lyon & Healy. If it's OK playable, decent price.

The description says it was made in NY by B&J, but not so; they didn't make instruments, just distributed and sold them. Regal built in Chicago.

[Eddie Sheehy]

Paint it blue and the Smurfs will go crazy for it...

[Jim Garber]

$150 is a bit much for any of these unless it is in mint condition. There were often sold wholesale by the half dozen. That is why you see lots of different labels. Slab birch mostly. I love the smurfiness and I would love to make a modern solid wood version of this design, as odd as it is.

Selling an old mandolin, made in America by B&J (NY department store) under the Victoria label. This is a pretty unusual specimen--it's an f-style mandolin with a reverse scroll and headstock. The wood on this instrument is really beautiful, everything seems to be "all original," it has a nice, "woody" tone, and would make a unique, inexpensive, vintage player. Behold the early 20th century vibe... There's a single crack near the top bout--hasn't really effected playing for me, but that's why this guy is priced on the lower side. For more info, B&J is related to the Regal brand family, also Kay, Stradolin / Strad-o-lin, Stromberg-Voisinet...

The label inside reads:

"Guaranteed Perfect Scale
Victoria
Best American Made
B&J
New York"

Included is the funky (opens from the bottom!), possibly original case. Please email me with some indication that you're a human, preferably a phone number. Local deal, in cash. All best.