Results 1 to 21 of 21

Thread: 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

  1. #1
    Registered User nmiller's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Rocky Hill, CT
    Posts
    339

    Default 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

    I've seen similar mandos posted in other threads, but they still seem to be pretty rare. I just got this one back from some restoration work:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_8564.JPG 
Views:	600 
Size:	127.4 KB 
ID:	147192Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_8565.JPG 
Views:	314 
Size:	135.9 KB 
ID:	147193Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_8566.JPG 
Views:	338 
Size:	142.4 KB 
ID:	147194Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_8567.JPG 
Views:	273 
Size:	107.3 KB 
ID:	147195Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_8568.JPG 
Views:	267 
Size:	128.4 KB 
ID:	147196Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_8572.JPG 
Views:	263 
Size:	191.3 KB 
ID:	147197

    It probably dates from the '20s, and it's probably the fanciest reverse-scroll model that didn't have a carved top. It's been suggested that these were built by someone else for Regal; in particular, the Larson Brothers built some similar designs for the Bruno brand. However, I'm convinced that Regal built these themselves - but they probably did copy the Bruno design. I say that partly due to the body shape (this is probably the only reverse-scroll to have a 3rd body point) and because the top and back are braced to produce a substantial arch:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_8571.JPG 
Views:	250 
Size:	157.2 KB 
ID:	147198

    My mandolin is generally in good shape, but it's had a lot of work done: the back was re-glued before I got it, and I had a shim inserted under the fretboard to negate the effects of a bowed neck. There is also a separation in the top along the edge of the pickguard, but no other damage. The tailpiece cover is a replacement, but everything else appears to be original. I don't recognize the tuners, but the gears turn incredibly smoothly for their age:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_8563.JPG 
Views:	235 
Size:	204.5 KB 
ID:	147199

    The mandolin has moderate volume, unlike Larson mandolins which tend to be surprisingly loud. The tone is very clear, with lots of treble and bass but not so much mid-range. Despite the arched top and back, the sound is very much that of a flat-top mandolin. The quality of construction is pretty high, making this one of Regal's nicer offerings. The details, such as the binding and scroll inlays, were clearly given a lot of attention.
    www.OldFrets.com: the obscure side of vintage instruments.

  2. The following members say thank you to nmiller for this post:


  3. #2
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,874

    Default Re: 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

    I'm nopt sure Larson built those fro Bruno, Regal had the ability to build these reverse scroll mandolins at any level. Yours is one of the nicer ones I've seen and it was obviously a Regal product. If you haven't read Bob Carlin's Regal Musical Instruments: 1895-1955 you should.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  4. #3

    Default Re: 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

    I'll see your mandolin scroll and raise you a mandocello scroll...
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	$_123.jpg 
Views:	225 
Size:	19.9 KB 
ID:	147202   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	$_12.jpg 
Views:	261 
Size:	25.3 KB 
ID:	147203  

  5. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Eddie Sheehy For This Useful Post:


  6. #4

    Default Re: 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

    Someone somewhere once upon a time on this site mentioned the name of the designer and patent holder of that design. As I remember it he was supposed to have been an employee of Regal.

  7. #5

    Default Re: 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

    Pappa Smurf...

  8. The following members say thank you to Eddie Sheehy for this post:


  9. #6
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,874

    Default Re: 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

    Quote Originally Posted by barney 59 View Post
    Someone somewhere once upon a time on this site mentioned the name of the designer and patent holder of that design. As I remember it he was supposed to have been an employee of Regal.
    Frank Kordick, president of Regal. The patent is here.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  10. The following members say thank you to MikeEdgerton for this post:


  11. #7
    Registered User nmiller's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Rocky Hill, CT
    Posts
    339

    Default Re: 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    If you haven't read Bob Carlin's Regal Musical Instruments: 1895-1955 you should.
    I've read through it many times, but this model isn't in there. It's a cool book, if oddly selective.
    www.OldFrets.com: the obscure side of vintage instruments.

  12. #8
    Registered User cbakewell's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Cheadle Hulme UK
    Posts
    71

    Default Re: 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

    Looks amazing

    My Sterling Reverse Scroll - heavily renovated - nowhere near as nice looking as your Regal, and sounds a bit boxy, but I love it just the same


    Colin Bakewell

  13. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to cbakewell For This Useful Post:


  14. #9

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by cbakewell View Post
    Looks amazing My Sterling Reverse Scroll - heavily renovated - nowhere near as nice looking as your Regal, and sounds a bit boxy, but I love it just the same YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po5XEU8OZUc
    Cbakewell, that was really nicely played, very sensitive and emotive. I really enjoyed that.

    Rob
    Rob

    My YouTube Channel
    My Book - The Solstice Blade - featuring zero mandolin content!

  15. The following members say thank you to Rob Beck for this post:


  16. #10

    Default Re: 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

    Quote Originally Posted by Eddie Sheehy View Post
    I'll see your mandolin scroll and raise you a mandocello scroll...
    there goes sheehy showing off his fantastic collection again

  17. #11

    Default Re: 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

    Quote Originally Posted by Eddie Sheehy View Post
    Pappa Smurf...
    it does have a smurf look--good one

  18. #12

    Default Re: 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

    My mandocello is still at the luthiers. The pickguard shrunk a little and the luthier is addressing the edges of it plus a couple of minor splits at the sound hole. Patient work. It has the same scrolls and third point as the mandolin. What's amazing is how thin the top is. I'm thinking of setting it up as an Octave Mandolin.

  19. #13
    Mandolin tragic Graham McDonald's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Canberra, Australia
    Posts
    1,645

    Default Re: 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

    And to round out the family, a mandola, 16.5" scale. Photographed in Fred Oster's shop in Philadelphia a few years back.

    What are the scale lengths of the mandolin and 'cello?

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Regal mandola.jpg 
Views:	227 
Size:	62.4 KB 
ID:	147288
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Regal Mandola 20s.jpg 
Views:	253 
Size:	116.1 KB 
ID:	147287  

  20. The following members say thank you to Graham McDonald for this post:


  21. #14

    Default Re: 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

    Graham, I think the MC is about 24 or 25 inch scale. I'll pop by the luthier and measure it.

  22. #15

    Default Re: 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

    Quote Originally Posted by Eddie Sheehy View Post
    I'll see your mandolin scroll and raise you a mandocello scroll...
    I will match your mandocello
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	mca.jpg 
Views:	149 
Size:	135.2 KB 
ID:	166574Click image for larger version. 

Name:	mc.jpg 
Views:	176 
Size:	472.2 KB 
ID:	166575

  23. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to RCPetit For This Useful Post:


  24. #16
    Registered User Tavy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Tavistock UK
    Posts
    4,438

    Default Re: 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

    Love it, very cool!

  25. #17

    Default Re: 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

    Quote Originally Posted by Eddie Sheehy View Post
    I'll see your mandolin scroll and raise you a mandocello scroll...
    sheehy has the most amazing mandos

  26. #18
    Registered User G7MOF's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Lancashire/UK
    Posts
    1,411

    Default Re: 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

    Were there no carved top versions of this model?
    I never fail at anything, I just succeed at doing things that never work....


    Fylde Touchstone Walnut Mandolin.
    Gibson Alrite Model D.

  27. #19

    Default Re: 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

    Quote Originally Posted by Eddie Sheehy View Post
    My mandocello is still at the luthiers. The pickguard shrunk a little and the luthier is addressing the edges of it plus a couple of minor splits at the sound hole. Patient work. It has the same scrolls and third point as the mandolin. What's amazing is how thin the top is. I'm thinking of setting it up as an Octave Mandolin.
    if it works as an octave mandolin that would likely sound fantastic. vegas had thin tops. that can make stringing in an unusual fashion worrisome but going octave mandolin might mean lighter strings. it looks solid rosewood back and sides, probably brazillian from back then. might be a cannon

    i had a stathoupoulo perfektone mandolin decades ago, before i knew who he was. flat back, brazillian rosewood. it was a cannon, should have kept it. it had lots of bling.

  28. #20

    Default Re: 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

    Quote Originally Posted by Eddie Sheehy View Post
    My mandocello is still at the luthiers. The pickguard shrunk a little and the luthier is addressing the edges of it plus a couple of minor splits at the sound hole. Patient work. It has the same scrolls and third point as the mandolin. What's amazing is how thin the top is. I'm thinking of setting it up as an Octave Mandolin.
    if it works as an octave mandolin that would likely sound fantastic. vegas and regals had thin tops. that can make stringing in an unusual fashion worrisome but going octave mandolin might mean lighter strings. it looks solid rosewood back and sides, probably brazillian from back then. might be a cannon

    i had a stathoupoulo perfektone mandolin decades ago, before i knew who he was. flat back, brazillian rosewood. it was a cannon, should have kept it. it had lots of bling.

  29. #21
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: 1920s Regal reverse scroll - with extra bonus scrolls!

    Quote Originally Posted by G7MOF View Post
    Were there no carved top versions of this model?
    Regal Ultragrand Mandolin—or were you asking about carved top mandocellos?
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	regalUG_frontback.jpg 
Views:	148 
Size:	416.5 KB 
ID:	166946  
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  30. The following members say thank you to Jim Garber for this post:


Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •