rjcda18 - Posted - 03/19/2025:  05:34:44

Hello there,
Can anyone help to try to age my father's old Dobro mandolin? I know he had it since before I was born so it has to be more than 60 years old! I have uploaded a few pics so hopefully shows the good condition it is in.

If no one can advise on the mandolin then maybe put me in touch with someone you think may be able to assist.

Thanks for any help in advance.

Regards,
Roy Armstrong

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 03/19/2025:  06:22:56

That's a cool old mandolin!

It's a lot older than 60 years - the "A" prefix of the serial number most likely makes it almost 90 years old from 1936.

Earlier in the 1930s Dobro (in Los Angeles at the time) licensed Regal of Chicago to begin building instruments. Due partially to the cost of shipping, Regal would  distribute instruments in the eastern half of the U.S. while Dobro in L.A. handled the western half of the country. 

I'n not sure of the model number right off, more research is needed, and it won't be found anywhere on the mandolin. We're almost exclusively about the guitars here on Resohangout. 

I can't read the entire serial number on my phone screen. This happens a lot with old Dobros when people share photos of the number online. 

What they don't realize is though they might be able to read the whole thing with good lighting in their home, it often doesn't "translate" well to a phone photo. I always suggest that you type the serial number (if you can read it in its entirety) into a post. 

But since it has the "A" prefix, they only used that for one year, 1936. I have a 1936-37 Dobro Model 37 squareneck guitar with no serial number at all. No rhyme or reason for this, but not rare or unusual in this era from Regal-built Dobro instruments, mandolins included. 

We can also tell from the case that it's from the prewar era. 

In 1941 just prior to the U.S. involvement in WWII, all Dobro production stopped because metal was need for the war effort.

As far as I know, there wouldn't be any Dobro mandolins made again until some point in the early 1970s.  

Edited by - MarkinSonoma on 03/19/2025 06:25:26

rjcda18 - Posted - 03/19/2025:  08:57:54

Hello Mark,
Many thanks for quick reply and all the information, very helpful. The serial number is A2183.
It is a very sentimental item to me as I have memories of Dad playing it and recording himself on his reel to reel tapes. Sadly the recordings are now lost but I still have the mandolin.
Do you know of anyone in UK I could contact for a valuation of this instrument?

Thanks again,
Roy

Brad Bechtel - Posted - 03/19/2025:  09:02:04

quote:

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Do you know of anyone in UK I could contact for a valuation of this instrument?

I would look on the Mandolin Cafe to see who in the UK can help you.

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 03/19/2025:  14:21:51

What Brad wrote.

You can also look at sites like Reverb and eBay to see what they are asking price wise and there are ways to see the selling price for those that have indeed sold. 

Link to a few for sale on Reverb below in U.S. dollars. Always check out how long it's been listed. The one for $1250 has been on there for a year. The seller apparently is in no hurry to move it, but at $1250 and sitting there for a year it's pretty obvious that's too high. Might be worth more in the UK because there have been only a fraction that ever went across the Atlantic, but who's to say? 

I wouldn't mind having one, but when you think of the mandolin, in modern times the "home base" for the instrument is in bluegrass - and it's pretty rare to see a bluegrass player with a resonator mandolin. Some players own them as sort of a change of pace, but it's not their main axe. 

reverb.com/marketplace?query=d...0mandolin

rjcda18 - Posted - 03/19/2025:  14:44:21

Thanks again everyone for the help and advice, so glad I registered on resohangout.