Would love to get more info on these 2 bowlbacks

[Gicla]

Hello everyone,

I have stumbled across a bowlback mandoline a few months ago. I mainly play guitar and keyboard, but when I tried the mandoline it just clicked and I got hooked

Now I can safely say it is my favorite instrument that I've tried so far!

I am a huge fan of the shape and sound of a bowlback (I've tried the modern mandos in the meantime) and I got another one in Hungary a few days back.

I would greatly appreciate any information on these two, like approximate age and origin. I know that the second one is of germanic origin, but the first one has no markings besides the Catania stamp.

Also, it is strange that there is a Catania stamp on the German one while the sticker inside says it is from Vienna

First mandoline I got in Serbia:



The second one I got in Budapest, Hungary:

The bridge is not glued on this one and it has the zeroth fret.

Hope someone can give me some info on them. Thank you very much in advance

[allenhopkins]

Hope the bridge isn't glued on either one; mandolin bridges aren't supposed to be glued to the top. They're "floating," held in place by string tension.

As to the rest, let the real bowl-back experts chime in. I'll just say that the Catania-stamped mandolin looks quite German, with its slotted headstock and zero fret, and that the interior label probably reflects the music store in Vienna that sold it.

[brunello97]

As to the rest, let the real bowl-back experts chime in. I'll just say that the Catania-stamped mandolin looks quite German, with its slotted headstock and zero fret,

I'm no bowl back expert, Allen, but I really do enjoy the Sicilian design aesthetic.
I know it rattles some of my friends here but the coglioni fuori approach to design is endlessly fascinating.

Rather than German, I think with the Budapester we're seeing another fascinating hybrid between Roman and Neapolitan mandolin design features....the Embergher slotted headstock and iconic sinuous re-curve between bowl and neck....which they did a veritable job with.
And the stylized, but so much more delightful, dragon scratchplate.
But there's also the 'Sienese' black / white edge banding along with a Vinaccian bowl and Sicilian soundhole banding.

It's a collage or a colazione del cane depending on your point of view.

I love Catanese mandolins.

Mick

[Peter Coronado]

Be sure to use only extra light strings. The neck joints on bowlbacks will fail under too much tension.

[Gicla]

After reading your response I checked and you are right, it is not glued on either one It was just stuck to the varnish. I wasn't aware that they shouldn't be glued as I'm still new to the mandoline, but it kind of makes sense.

Thank you!

[Gicla]

I ordered these for the second one:
Dogal Calace Mandolin Strings RW92B Soft Tension

The first one has very thin and soft strings.
Thank you for your advice!

[vic-victor]

Both mandolins are made in Catania, Sicily. German sticker inside is the one of the retailer. As Mick mentioned before, the one with the dragon is distinctly Roman in shape, although with a bit of a Sicilian flair. Who is the maker is hard to say, as it was made for trade. The tailpiece on it is German, likely to be made by "Cid" (Gebr. Schuster), most likely the tuners are also of German manufacture. I've seen them on Roman mandolins made by Puglisi. This one is may or may not be made by Puglisi, although I have seen a similar one made by them. From another hand the stamp on top is not theirs. They also made some instruments unlabelled, for retailers, but they usually put their own stamp on the inside of the top in such a case. Have a look inside with the little mirror or camera and see if anythings is there.

- the one made by Puglisi

The second one made by Miroglio, a factory also in Catania, as per it's stamp. Reasonably large maker.

[Gicla]

Thank you for the information. I will get a sufficiently small mirror to look inside both. Had no idea they did that :D
Do you maybe have any idea about the age of these two mandolines? No one mentioned it so far

Cheers!

[vic-victor]

IMO 1910 to 1920