National Mandolin Style 1 serial

[niaro]

Hi guys,

I just acquired this Mandolin and I'm quite confused with the serial: 1171 as you can see on the photo, which seems to be way out of the previous ranges. Do you have any clue to help me on that point? Love the business card on the case as well!

Cheers

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[leeophonic]

looks to be a really nice find and with the Fiddle Fret shop association making it all the more special, Mark Makin will no doubt feel his resophonic senses tingling and chip in soon.

Lee

[Mark Makin]

Hi Niaro, I’m afraid I can’t be much help here. As you have already worked out, this is a really perplexing number. As these numbers were hand stamped, we often have occasions where they are double stamped. At first I thought the first two ‘1’s were doubled but this can’t be. If the original number was meant to be 117, then the mandolin would have to be a tricone. If it was meant to be 171, then it would have to have screen mesh grilles. Neither is correct so we must assume 1171 was intended. Obviously you have realised that the number series for silver mandolins only goes up to the 600s, so it does not look like that was their intended number range. I can see no other number range that fits the bill except for the tenor/plectrum silver range. It may be that whoever numbered it mistook it for a similar shaped tenor body. The mandolin itself does seem to be from around 1931/2 which would match the tenor range as well. Ribs on the coverplate would suggest this date or later yet not too many Style 1s were made in the later 30s - they tend to be higher value mandolins. That’s about my best guess !! Anyone else have any other suggestions??