Re: Fancy "Flatiron" Pancake?
I have a 1986 Carlson-signed Gibson A-N Custom, which is basically a tarted-up Flatiron; highly figured wood, sunburst, "The Gibson" headstock inlay with an MOP "leaf" like a '20's A-3, gold hardware. I understand it was made for a New Hampshire Gibson dealer, Louis Catello, who wrote is name on the label with a Sharpie.
Mine also has a more modest MOP rosette, plain dot fretboard inlays, triple w/b/w binding front and back. The OP's makes me just a tad suspicious as to its origin, due to the floral-inlaid pickguard and the "mustache" tailpiece, the like of which I've never seen on a Flatiron or Gibson/Flatiron mandolin. Still, an impressively ornate "take" on the Gibson/Flatiron "pancake" design.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
Bookmarks