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Thread: Unknown Mandolin Inheritance

  1. #1
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    Question Unknown Mandolin Inheritance

    Looking for some information on my late fathers mandolin, particularly date & origin. I have searched the internet high and low. Labeled “Bell Brand Patented NMS co” I found a similar looking one in this forum and some suggested it was a “faux resonator” as with that one mine has holes only by the neck where you can see straight to the back of the instrument. The others you cannot.

    I have attached photos for reference.

    Thank you in advance.
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  2. #2
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown Mandolin Inheritance

    The bell Brand is simply the manufacturer of the tailpiece that was used on many instruments. Is there wood underneath the holes in the metal cover plate on the rest of that instrument?
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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  3. #3
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    Default Re: Unknown Mandolin Inheritance

    Yes there is wood underneath the cover plate at the bottom, thanks

  4. #4
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown Mandolin Inheritance

    OK, this one is a faux resonator model as well. What is going to identify this maker will be the points on the body and the headstock shape.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

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

  5. #5
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown Mandolin Inheritance

    I'm assuming this is the thread you found. I'd say they came from the same builder, yours is a bit more deluxe.

    The headstock shape on yours is similar to some Slingerland mandolin banjos but I couldn't attribute it to them yet. The inlay is common to many instruments and was problely available from a jobber. I've only found these two copies of the "resonator" cover thus far.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

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

  6. #6
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown Mandolin Inheritance

    Here is another one just like yours.

    Called a Cathedranol. The only place that name shows up is on the Cafe.

    Note: I had the name wrong, Catherdranola.
    Last edited by MikeEdgerton; Nov-01-2020 at 4:50pm.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

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

  7. #7
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown Mandolin Inheritance

    If you're looking for a date I'd put it late 20's to early 30's.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

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

  8. #8

    Default Re: Unknown Mandolin Inheritance

    The tuners are engraved Waverly "bell ended" and they tended to be used on reasonably expensive instruments in the late 1920s into the early 1930s- the Gibson A4 mandolins, for example. You see the motif on the headstock on instruments such as the Supertone Viol (Shutt style) mandolins made by Harmony in the 1920s and on banjolins in the same period. Okay, it is probably an item any maker could buy. One would assume that as there is no name on the instrument, it may have been sold by a third party and made by one of the usual manufacturers that were contracted to make such instruments. However, I cannot make any suggestions unless that motif was one used solely by Harmony, which is very unlikely. I think the instrument in Mike Edgerton's link delights in the name of Cathedranola.

    Here is a Viol- Harmony made. The headstock is not the same shape but there is a stylistic resemblance but that may be a coincidence.

    https://jakewildwood.blogspot.com/20...le-carved.html

  9. #9
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown Mandolin Inheritance

    Got it, I was on the right track in the first place. The fretboard markings lead me to the thread about Slingerland. It was built by Slingerland. You can read about it here.

    I just sent Dave the link to the thread. He probably has more information on these.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

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

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  11. #10
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown Mandolin Inheritance

    Looks like from the evidence on the other thread that at least the coverplate was made by Slingerland/Maybell. Really, the only difference between this one and the one on the thread Mike links to is that the logo is missing from this one. Otherwise it is very much similar.

    Same logo as this tenor guitar pictured on Frets.com.

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  12. #11
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown Mandolin Inheritance

    I'm sure it's the Slingerland model, they were he only ones doing that pattern of markers on the fretboard. This might have been an early one or one they built for the trade.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

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

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    Default Re: Unknown Mandolin Inheritance

    Thank you everyone for the information! It’s way more than I started with

  14. #13
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown Mandolin Inheritance

    Go to www.slingerlandguitar.com and leave a message for Dave Kolars. He can probably tell you more about it than anyone else.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

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

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    Default Re: Unknown Mandolin Inheritance

    Yep, it's a Slingerland Cathedranola, probably late 20's-early 30's... They made the Cath in guitar, tenor guitar, and mando... Yours is a twin to mine, and after seeing yours, I have now seen 3 of them, and I have the other 2!! The other one is cheaper, not nearly as nice, and is in 3 pcs on the workbench... Soon... I'll get to it soon!! I got your e-mail and Mike sent me link... I'll send you more... DK
    dkolars
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    http://www.davekolars.com

    "We're all so caught up in wanting to sound different, wanting to sound original-- but we should stop trying so hard. We're all unique at birth. We'll come out sounding original without giving it a thought." (Feet Rogers)

  16. #15
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Unknown Mandolin Inheritance

    Thanks Dave.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

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

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    Default Re: Unknown Mandolin Inheritance

    I would like to hear it being played !

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