Help dating vintage C. Bruno Mandolin

**SmokyMoments** · Jul-15-2022, 10:27pm

Can anyone venture an opinion as to the approximate age of this C. Bruno flatback mandolin I recently bought. I'm guessing somewhere near the 1920s but I could be very wrong. Can't find one like it in any of the old Bruno catalogs I've found online. Thanks for any help you might offer.

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**SmokyMoments** · Jul-15-2022, 10:49pm

Can anyone venture an opinion as to the approximate age of this C. Bruno flatback mandolin I recently bought. I'm guessing somewhere near the 1920s but I could be very wrong. Can't find one like it in any of the old Bruno catalogs I've found online. Thanks for any help you might offer.

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**NickR** · Jul-16-2022, 1:59am

It was made by Harmony circa 1930 and many were sold by Sears, Roebuck under the Supertone brand. Sears, Roebuck owned Harmony from 1916 to 1941. People date them in the 1920s but they are a little later.

https://jakewildwood.blogspot.com/20...-mandolin.html The body copy explains that it is not a Regal but a Harmony mandolin.

These mandolins do not have a neck block as such and this can cause problems. This seller has two Reverb ads:

https://reverb.com/item/51127305-sup...an-instruments

This one shows you inside: https://reverb.com/au/item/45866645-...restored-black

**NickR** · Jul-16-2022, 2:07am

I have posted a reply in the other request you posted at the Vintage Instruments thread.

**Mandolin Cafe** · Jul-16-2022, 6:58am

Threads merged. Not necessary to post duplicate conversations on the same topic, please.

**brunello97** · Jul-16-2022, 5:54pm

Originally Posted by NickR

These mandolins do not have a neck block as such and this can cause problems...

Nick, what do you mean by this?

The link you have to Jake's site has him referencing reseting the neck in the block.

Do you have any photos of the interior of the instrument at this joint?

It would be interesting to see.

Thanks,

Mick

**NickR** · Jul-17-2022, 1:49am

Mick- at this Reverb listing the seller shows the inside and mentions that the shape of the top end of the body is made by the cut block- which is not a "block" in the usual sense and I think allows the neck to be pulled downward as Jake describes it.

https://reverb.com/au/item/45866645-...restored-black