Unmarked bowlback mandola

[Steve Finlay]

I bought this one used about 20 years ago. There is no trace of a label whatsoever inside. There are little holes where the tailpiece used to be, and there must have been a round insert of some kind at the top of the peghead. The pick guard is completely plain, and there is no sign that there was ever any ornamentation around the hole.

It looks to me like a common-as-dirt early 20th century instrument. About the only feature that might narrow it down a bit is the slotted peghead. Does anyone know what it might be?

[Jim Garber]

I am pretty sure it was not made in the US. Very few mandolins over here were made with slotted head stocks and zero-frets. My first guess would be from the UK but the usual suspects (LaFoley or John Dallas) don't really have the same features. I have seen slotted head stocks on German-made instruments.

[Steve Finlay]

Thanks very much, Jim. I confess that I did not notice the zero fret until you pointed it out. Duh.