Custom Vintage Handmade Bowlback Mandolin Late 1800's

This instrument has been a mystery to me for quite some time… I took it to an expert who said it was most definitely made in the late 1800s. According to him you can tell by how many staves are on the instrument as well as the fact that the tuners are not Bakelite. The bridge has been replaced with another vintage bridge and a strap button was installed… For the life of me I don't know why, but that's how I got it. I inherited this mandolin from my grandparents sometime back. They were antique dealers. I could not find a name or a sticker anywhere on this instrument that would give some kind of hint as to who made it… The expert that I took it to could not positively identify its creator either though he said it was possible it was made by Washburn as the headstock closely resembles headstocks on late 1800s Washburn bowl back mandolin models. The only difference is that this one has the hole drilled in it. This hole was definitely drilled when the mandolin was originally made. He also said that there is a very good possibility that this mandolin was handmade by a luthier during that time. His parting words were, it is old, it is in surprisingly good shape for its age, it is more likely handmade than made in a production facility, and it's very cool. I was going to keep it as a decoration for my music room but have decided to sell it to fund another very sentimental purchase. The $35 shipping charge is as high as it is because extreme and extensive care will be taken when packaging this instrument and no packing materials will be spared to in sure it arrives in the condition it is shown in here.

Listed via the Reverb App