Salvaged by my Mum from the back of a cupboard - a Mandolin that must be at least 30 years old! My late father was very reluctant to throw anything out.
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Does have the following inscribed on the body:-
Tannhauser
GES.GESCH.
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My researches suggest it hails from Markneukirchen in Saxony.
http://www.mandolinluthier.com/german_m ... makers.htm
This site has the following:-
"A surprising fact is that Germany, despite its high population density, still has 29% of its land mass covered by woods and forests. It is probably for these climatic and geographical reasons, that during the last century, the European country most famous for producing mandolins after Italy, was Germany. During the period of the existence of E. Germany, there was practically a factory-scale production of instruments around Markneukirchen in Saxony. Sadly, due to the principles of the regime, individual luthiers, some of whom were excellent, were prohibited from putting their names in their creations. Thus there are many German mandolins still in existence, and amongst them, some of excellent quality made by master luthiers. "
So it would appear East Germany, at least 10 years before the Berlin wall came down, is birthplace of the mandolin.
Elsewhere on the same site we have a page about domed mandolins.
http://www.mandolinluthier.com/Garchbacks.htm
"These arch back mandolins are typical of many made in Germany in Markneukirken. The back is often made in contrasting woods, and is domed."
The pictured examples of this type of Markneukirken mandolin are very much like mine. There are too a couple of pictures specifically labelled Tannhauser.
However given the part I've highlighted in bold above - "Sadly, due to the principles of the regime, individual luthiers, some of whom were excellent, were prohibited from putting their names in their creations." - it would appear highly unlikely I will make any progress on finding who made the instrument.
The sound is not at all bad with the new strings on - very clear and ringing. But - wow - the fretboard is so damn tiny. I will maybe get some sound samples for opinions at some point. As for tuning and chord shapes etc - there's some more homework for me. But ... not much scope for use as a blues instrument I'm afraid.
I got put onto Markneukirchen by an article in German that someone sent me - though Google translate does a less than perect job! Until I did more searching I thought at first reading that Mark Neukirchen was a person due to the translation.
Whether you should look forward to hearing the uploads is another more difficult question!! 
but it'll give a quick idea of the sound. One part playing chords, the other on lead. Simple chords thankfully : D,G,Em,C,A.
