c.1920 Unmarked "Butterfly" Flatback Mandolin

This is a great-sounding flatback mandolin, probably made by Harmony in Chicago, around 1920. It borrows trim from that maker's fancier guitar designs and a bowlback-style pickguard with butterfly inlay. I'm not sure that it's a Harmony make (it may be a Regal, considering the heel shape), but I'm pretty sure this was made by Harmony. 

The tone on this fella is wonderful: open, crisp but warm, and very loud, even with the ultra-light 32w-9 strings I put on these old guys

The original finish is still extant on this instrument but the whole mandolin was topcoated at some point which gives it nice gloss and a bit of extra protection. The finish must have been in decent shape to begin with, though, since there's not much wear & tear visible underneath the new coat.

Work included a fret level/dress, bridge reshaping, brace regluing, replacement of the treble-side fretboard binding, cleaning, and setup. It plays nice and quick with 1/16" action at the 12th fret on a 13" short scale (typical of period mandos).

Pearl dots, original nickel-silver frets (low and small, per period preferences), and binding on the board. The board itself is dyed maple I believe.

The bowlback-style pickguard is inlaid. The rosette, pickguard, and top binding/purfling is all celluloid stuff, not true pearl, but it looks totally period-cool and really pops out in natural light. 

Did I mention there are no cracks anywhere on this instrument?

Original tailpiece and cover are in good shape.

Yup -- solid spruce top with solid mahogany back and sides.

The rosewood veneer on the headstock is very pretty stuff. Original bone nut.

Tuners are recessed and have a coverplate "sealing" them.

That oversprayed top coat really pulls the grain and coloring out of the mahogany.

When I opened these tuners up to lube them I found (as usual) that aside from being popped in the back of the recessed chamber for them, they weren't secured in any fashion. I installed some very tiny screws to keep them stable which definitely helps for tuning stability.

Yup, a very clean-looking instrument with a nice, warm, clean-sounding tone! It'll cut quite well for a flat-back as well.