Washburn Mandolins

[Mfowler1952]

Anybody know much about the early twentieth century Washburn Mandolins? I have in in great condition except for a cracked pick guard. It has the Black rimmed label which I believe indicates it was made between 1905 and 1907.

[Wade Hampton]

Does it have the bowlback shape, what many of us call the "taterbug" design like this one?

Or does it have the Gibson-style carved and arched top and back, like this:

A third common mandolin design from back then is the bent-top, flatback mandolin. This one is a Martin mandolin, but many companies made similar instruments:

Wade Hampton Miller

[Mfowler1952]

It is a tater bug style, very plain, tortoiseshell pickguard.

[Wade Hampton]

In North America, the main players interested in those bowlback mandolins are classical mandolinists, and there aren't many of those folks around. There are, however, lots of bowlback mandolins, so they tend to be undervalued. In other words, they're not worth as much as it would cost you to make one.

That's generally speaking. There are some ornate models that sell for a lot of money, but generally speaking taterbug mandolins are kind of a drug on the market in North America. I can't speak about anyplace else, though.


whm

[posternutbag]

Wade's assessment is pretty dead on. If you really want some feedback, you could go over to www.mandolincafe.com, scroll down to the "Classical" sub-forum and post in the "Bowlbacks of Note" thread.

[Mfowler1952]

Wayne, thanks for the great information! Poster it av thanks for the link!