This venerable old mandolin is a great player's instrument that has been played and loved over the years and still has plenty opf life to go. The serial number 51798 as best as we can make out dates it to about 1919 which is squarely within the Lloyd Loar era at the Gibson factory. The instrument is currently strung up with metallic flat-wound strings and sounds both rich and clear. It plays really nicely with low comfortable action and clear tones from all frets. The mandolin appear all-original, and as we make clear from the pictures, there is a significant amount of finish wear on the top, at the rosette and below the sound hole, likely from playing with a pick without the benefit of a pick-guard, as the original guard is not present. But we prefer a worn original finish to a refinish. There are also two small screws on the back near the neck block which we assume was part of a past repair, but all is solid and sounding great. Added bonus, it comes with its original Gibson branded hard case with green interior and all latches working.