Parker 5 String Bandola - 1894

I played one of these the other dayat a friend's house. It was made in 1894 or so by a guy named Parker in Montreal. I found these patent drawing s online. I'm trying to get the owner to send me a photo so I can post that too. The flatback body was about the size of a Martin mandolin - maybe narrower. Blond-ish wood of some sort - I'm guessing spruce top and maple sides. It was strung with very light steel strings and was very quiet and sweet sounding. In the text of the patent it seems like he considers that the big deal here is the fact that he has invented the "cutaway" for easier access to high notes. (Fig 1 & 2) The fact that it's a banjo/mando hybrid seems to be almost immaterial