Here’s an interesting guitar that came from an email through the contact page. CG lives in the UK and “purchased the guitar at a street market in London UK in the late 1980’s”. He’s been a musician for 50 years and has “done nothing to the guitar since I bought it, other than use a soft brush to remove dust”.

Description
It is parlour size with two labels inside.
One label has the words:
MARIO MACCAFERRI
Fece a CENTO Anno.1928 – (28 hand written in pencil)
The other label has the words:
N. 011 – (011 hand written in pencil)
ANTICA FABBRICA ROMANA DI STRUMENTI A CORDE
Ditta ORIAZIO PALMA
SPECIALITA RIPARAZIONI GARANTITE
ROMA . CORSO VITTORIO EMANUELE, 274 . ROMA
The guitar appears to be a budget instrument.
I purchased the guitar at a street market in London UK in the late 1980’s


“Made in Cento year 1928” (28 hand written in pencil)

Number: 011
“ANCIENT ROMAN FACTORY OF STRING INSTRUMENTS
ORIAZIO PALMA company
SPECIALTY REPAIRS GUARANTEED”





Shows detail of the back board construction.



the inlay on the top board has clearly been deliberately removed (partially), I’m tempted think it is the name “Mario” or “Maccaferri”, although I guess it could also possibly be “Mastro” – as used in later years.








