Great Post, Jake, what a fascinating guitar. Astonishing that it would have held together with all that fragile decoration for so long. It must have been a treat to work on.
I didn't realize parlor guitars were made before the late 1800s. This is about 50 years older than any I've ever heard of. And to come from the shop of Martin's teacher! That's quite a scoop! I am very impressed. It reminds me of those 10 stringed South American instruments. Charangos. Anyway, the huge headstock and small body, and the strange neck coloring pattern all remind me of those.
All the post Columbian guitars had those small bodies going way way back. I don't know anyone who definitely has a Stauffer Guitar. They are all "probably Stauffer guitars".
the decorative inlay at the end of the fretboard is very similar to a Cristian-Friedrich Bauer guitar I own. He made those viennese-style guitars in Klingenthal (Germany) around 1840-50. If it's the case, it should have a iron-burned mark inside, on the neck-block. Try a look with a mirror or a flexible camera.
Amazing guitar! I have a similar (though not quite as ornate) parlor guitar that I would like to see restored. It has a similar fret-wire saddle. I am curious as to how you corrected the saddle on this instrument.
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anyway, this guitar looks great!