It's Mandolin season.

Here's a Neopolitan Bowl back mandolin which came in for repairs.

Its condition was reasonable for its age. The case was in a bad state.

The mandolin had lost its original bridge saddle. In its place someone had made a crude replacement which lifted the string action above a playable height.

The bowl back was split in several places but overall it was sound.

The frets had worn unevenly and needed levelling and crowning.

I repaired the cracks in the bowl and refinished the surface, removed the machine head tuners, re polished the head and neck, levelled and crowned the frets and fabricated a new bridge saddle.

String height and intonation are now as good as it gets.

The case was restitched. I sewed a new leather handle and new lid fastening toggles. I located some fresh red felt and patched up the interior. Lastly I refinished and waxed the exterior of the case. It still shows its age but is now intact and will continue to protect its contents for a further 100 years with good care.