Hi Ken,
Here are some photos of my Morelli bass. I paid $300.00 for this about 20 years ago. It was in very rough shape and someone had refinished it. Originally, it was a golden color. I know this because the old varnish was visible under the original tuning machine half-plates. Eventually, I replaced the half plate machines with some very old ones I found at a local guitar shop. They look 'Frenchy' to me but am not sure of their origins. They were attached to a very old scroll and neck which I gave to Paul Strelau and he put the scroll on a big five string bass he and Jesse made.
A few years ago, the Morelli bass was damaged and the scroll at the neck joint was broken. My repair person felt that the only way to guarantee the work was to replace the entire neck and scroll. I still have the old scroll.
The bass has both a stamp and a label. The label is dated 1910.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/4019654...7621000224037/