Gibson from the year 1945 founded 4 WG - 32583

[paulobianca]

Hello, we founded a mandoline from Gibson. In an old intrument case, with original sticker and serialnumber, even old strings were in the case. The name of the first owner you can't read, but he was an Sgt. and the date 20.Oct. 45. Who can help us to found somebody, who can us say what worth it have or who knows anybody who will buy this beautiful discovery ?

 

Thanks

 

http://s27.photobucket.com/user/Paulobibi/library/

[Dave F]

Nice find. I believe the mandolin is older than 1945.

 

I'm by no means and expert but from the documentation I have this would be my uneducated guess.

 

The serial number on the label looks to be 55592. Please verify that.

 

That would date it around 1920 just before the Lloyd Loar era .

 

Looks to have a snakehead shape head stock but hard to see in the pictures which is listed as starting in '22-'23 which is the start of the Loar era.

 

Color is brown.

 

Oval sound hole.

 

I do not have a good reference on the differences but it looks to be an A or A1. I believe the A2 and A4 had more inlaid.

 

Prices vary on models but in excellent condition they list for $1600 - $3600 depending on exact year and model and condition.

 

Yours is definitely not in excellent condition but looks to be in good condition. More photos of the back, sides and neck joint would help.

 

Hopefully someone with more knowledge will chime in.

 

You may want to contact some experts such as

 

https://www.facebook...rldheadquarters

 

mailto:1939d18@gmail.com

[paulobianca]

Thank you very much!

I'd took more photos...

Thanks for the contact in facebook

[plexi]

From the photo of the back of the headstock, it looks pretty clear that this is a "paddle head", not a snake head model.

 

It looks like a sheraton brown A-2 from the teens, like this one:

 

http://www.mandolinarchive.com/gibson/serial/46092

 

Probably in the $1,000 to $1,500 range.