Cremona 545' by masterbuilder Bräuer / Castagnieri / Mario Casella / La Corona

Handcarved mandolin 

It took some effort to learn more about this typical mandolin.

It was already obvious that the manufacturer would be European.

The string holder e.g. has been used by Framus and Hoffner a.o.

Thanks to some people who reacted on my question and now

it is clear. A Cremona model "545' by master builder Bräuer

from Schonbach. This particular model resembles the model

457 from Hoffner. What exactly happened between Hoffner

and Cremona (Bräuer) is not yet clear. High end models of

bigger companies were often made by luthiers and by hand.

From the information I've got from the readers of the

mandolin cafe materials for the soundbox were all

laminated and pressed in this form with the help of steam.

I do my best of course to make beautiful pictures but

the honor in photographing this instrument must go to:

http://schoenbach.webnode.cz/photoga.../#dsc-7470-jpg.

Simply great pictures of a remarkable instrument.

The strange form of the "F" holes are sometimes called "cats' eyes"

and indeed, I can agree to that.

Meticulous woodwork can be seen by observing the bridge.

The bottom being ebony and the top out of rosewood.

The string holder that can also be seen on the Framus andHoffner mandolins.

Riveted worm wheel holders that are present on most better

quality tuners.

Special attention to detail! It can be seen here in the binding.

CASTAGNIERI

A plain mandolin that proves that basic instruments
doesn't have to be of poor quality. In the contrary:
This instrument has a loud, fresh tone and very even
sound among the stringpairs. The way it sounds
reminds me a lot of the Nicolas Spoto mandolin
further in this blog.


The back that has been unaltered because it still was
in great shape. 15 ribs made out of brasilian rosewood.
A nice straight neck that received a newly added
ebony fingerboard (19 frets)
It stays in tune well and the octavepitch is
OK. Original tuners that work well.

I think most of these mandolins come from other manufacturers
as the brand can be added later on by its seller.
This is a neapolitain mandolin from around 1900.

The knobs have been cleaned and the tuners
oiled a bit. Still working great!

MARIO CASELLA

This mandolin clearly shows other decorations as opposed to the

Napels based builders of that time. The soundhole has a straight side

on the right which is thought to be a Calace invention.

The back of the Casella mandoline shows 19 ribs.

The handsigned label of this mandoline from Catania.

And another Mario Casella that shows some features of

the famous Embergher mandolins e.g. de non symmetrical

scratchplate and the headform (a bit), More Sicilian builders

did this, Puglisi Reale e Figli for instance.

A nice Brasilian rosewood back in pristine condition.

What allways is of importance is the neck angle as more

than often the soundboard deforms under the string pressure.

The seam of the two halves of this soundboard loosened

and to make things stable again I made an insert from

the bottom all the way up to the scratch plate.

Though the Catania based builders do not have the 

same status as the ones from Naples and Rome this is a 

decent built instrument with a nice sound quality.

Casella allways branded his instruments as can

be studied here. It says: Mario Casella - Catania.

The label has been hand signed as on most of

his instruments.

La Corona

This instrument has been restored to its' original condition.

It is a finely made instrument with the original fingerboard

and frets. Nicely decorated edges and soundhole.

Beautifully shaped back as well and closed tuners that

are tastefully engraved and still work well.

A close shot of the sound hole decoration but also the

fine grained top can be studied here!

I made an effort to make a picture of its' label which says:

Strumenti a Corda (Stringed instruments)

La Corona

Marca di Fabrica  (Factory brand)

Materiali Scelti (Selected materials)

Lavorazione accuratissima (accurate work)

Voce Brilliante e Robusta (brilliant and strong voice)

The tuners that a securely engraved.

The head form that is pointing towards the Napolitian

mandolin builders as the Vinaccia family. This brand 

can be found also on the site of Dave Hynds.