Stewart and Bauer mandolin Circa 1900
Around 1898, Stewart and George Bauer of Philadelphia joined forces and built guitars, banjos, and mandolins, such as this high-end, but unmarked, mandolin. Rich Myers tells me that this mandolin is identical to one in his collection attributed to J.W. Pepper (thanks Rich!), although the instrument itself was almost certainly made by Stewart and Bauer. This was clearly a top-of-the-line instrument, with 42 ribs, pearl binding on the top and sides, a carved heel similar to those found on Stewart's best banjos, and a fancy pewter and vine fingerboard inlay pattern similar to that found on the "Acme Professional-University Glee" banjo in my collection.