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Thread: Estate sale oddity

  1. #1
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    Default Estate sale oddity

    Saw this mando shaped instrument at an estate sale today and I figured I'd post a pic to see if anyone might help identify this old bowl back. It is in pretty rough shape (crack in the back and top, top separation, and tuner issues.)
    It is set up with four courses of three strings each.
    I didn't buy it as I feel it is beyond my limited repair capability. Don't have any idea where you'd find six on a side tuner plate. And I don't need another wall hanger!
    No label, markings, or anything to indicate maker or country of origin.
    Any thoughts from the bowl back crowd?
    Ratliff R5 2007, Capek A5 2003, Washburn M5S-SB Jethro Burns 1982, Mid-Mo M-2, Epiphone MM 30 Bk mandolins, Harmony Batwing 1970's, George Bauer bowlback early 1900's Philadelphia.


    "Don't cloud the issue with facts!" Groucho Marx

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Estate sale oddity

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Ratliff R5 2007, Capek A5 2003, Washburn M5S-SB Jethro Burns 1982, Mid-Mo M-2, Epiphone MM 30 Bk mandolins, Harmony Batwing 1970's, George Bauer bowlback early 1900's Philadelphia.


    "Don't cloud the issue with facts!" Groucho Marx

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Estate sale oddity

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Ratliff R5 2007, Capek A5 2003, Washburn M5S-SB Jethro Burns 1982, Mid-Mo M-2, Epiphone MM 30 Bk mandolins, Harmony Batwing 1970's, George Bauer bowlback early 1900's Philadelphia.


    "Don't cloud the issue with facts!" Groucho Marx

  4. #4

    Default Re: Estate sale oddity

    It's an old Oscar Schmidt- it has an OS monogram on the pickguard. I would imagine a gear and a post would be fine to fix that tuner strip. There was someone in Poland who was selling two brand new very old German six on a plate tuners a while back! Here is one with different tuners: https://jakewildwood.blogspot.com/20...-mandolin.html

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  6. #5
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Estate sale oddity

    It's a mandriola. Not all that unusual depending on where you live and who lived there before you

    Previous discussions of mandriolas can be found here.

    Previous discussions regarding Oscar Schmidt mandiolas can be found here.

    You could probably find an older set of those same tuners in 4 to a plate and scavenge to cog and post.

    Added: They also use 6 on a plate tuners on 12-string guitars and I wouldn't be surprised if they were similar.
    Last edited by MikeEdgerton; May-22-2022 at 6:32am.
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  8. #6
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Estate sale oddity

    Mandriolas crop up frequently and in the US they are almost always OS's although I have seen other brands. You were wise to walk away especially at that price.
    Jim

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  9. #7
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    Default Re: Estate sale oddity

    Thanks for the responses. Much as I was tempted (of course anything resembling a mandolin is tempting) this looked like too daunting to try to repair. The back separation, which I should have shown better, ran the entire length up the middle of the bowl. Oh well, ..........
    Ratliff R5 2007, Capek A5 2003, Washburn M5S-SB Jethro Burns 1982, Mid-Mo M-2, Epiphone MM 30 Bk mandolins, Harmony Batwing 1970's, George Bauer bowlback early 1900's Philadelphia.


    "Don't cloud the issue with facts!" Groucho Marx

  10. #8
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Estate sale oddity

    I have heard them sometimes called a trichordia but I believe mandriola is the more accepted term.

    I have one, here, and I play it now and again. Mine is tough to keep in tune (as I will be when I am over 100 years old). It is great for chords, very ringie as you can imagine. It is a compromise for any kind of melody playing.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

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