My Grandfathers Mandolin

[Ezzy]

These are pictures of my Grandfathers Mandolin, he died in 1948 when I was 2 years old.
It has been wrapped up in newspaper and been stored since then.

I had forgotten about it until recently and decided I would like to restore it.
Inside the bowl it says ''Stridente - Fabrica di Mandolini - Via Antonio 22 - Napoli

As you can see it is in reasonable condition but:
The edge detail is missing from the Bridge onwards which I think may be Mother of Pearl and hardwood- can I buy New Inserts?
The Machine heads still operate but are very rusty - should they be replaced or cleaned somehow?
Is the ivory bridge original

I would appreciate any help/advice, and possibly a date?

[poul hansen]

Rust can be removed with a water solution of oxalic acid. It only attack rust not iron/steel.

Edge details(binding) were handmade then and now.

[Jim Garber]

Post a photo of the tuning machines. While you are at it, also post a photo of the mandolin from the side. Some of these old ones have neck problems and it might cost you a bunch to fix. Also, you have a hairline crack on the treble side that you should have someone attend to. Stridente is a decent maker though and it might be worth it to have it restored especially with the connection to your grandfather. This is not tons of money but still...

[Richard500]

That butterfly! Embedded in a rigorously formal frame is an abstract worthy of early Picasso. The shapes even look like inlay leftovers. Love it.
Could it be celluloid cast around shell bits?

[Bob Buckingham]

I had a flat back Lyon and Healy way back in the day that had a similar butterfly pickguard. It sounded it great but the tuning machines did not work very well, so I did not keep it. Wish I had. My grandfather's mandolin is a taterbug sitting here near me right now. He gave up mandolin when he went into the navy in 1917.

[brunello97]

I doubt the bridge is original. Likely something more slender and refined in shape, perhaps of ebony with a bone saddle.

It appears in pretty good condition for being wrapped in newspapers for 70+ years. It was likely around 40-45 years old when your grandfather passed.

Jim is correct, the condition / position of the neck is what will determine whether this will be a playable instrument or a treasured heirloom.

Hopefully, both.

Neck repairs on these old Italian bowlbacks are neither simple nor inexpensive.

Some photos from the side will help folks here help make a long distance assessment (for what that's worth.)

If you are in Britain, our good friend, John Maddock, who is a regular here, lives down Cornwall way and is the best in the business at repairing these.

Let's hope for the best!

Mick

[MikeEdgerton]

That butterfly! Embedded in a rigorously formal frame is an abstract worthy of early Picasso. The shapes even look like inlay leftovers. Love it.
Could it be celluloid cast around shell bits?

They appear to be the cutoff waste from other mother-of-pearl inlay cuts inlaid into what is probably a natural shell product produced by a member of the Testudinidae family in the order of Testudines.

A good use for what would have been wasted material, not unlike Gibson making wooden toys at the beginning of the Great Depression. I'm sure they used their cutoff extra materials for those.

I doubt there is any celluloid involved but hey, I have an eraser on my pencil. I've been wrong before.

[Ezzy]

Mike and Jim
Thanks to all for comments, much appreciated

Attached side photo and Machine heads- the guitar beside it is my 1963 Watkins Rapier 33 - still played - in full working order and all original