I found this
info:
"
One of the main reasons for importing acoustic steel strung guitars into Britain in the 1950’s was the demand for louder instruments as the lighter nylon strung Spanish made classicals failed to deliver a cutting edge sound in the folk, skiffle and rock & roll boom of that era. There was also still a U.K. import embargo on U.S.A. instruments until June 1959 which meant nearly all the guitars that were shipped into the U.K. came from Europe, produced mainly in Germany, The Netherlands and some from Italy. The Italian luthiers and instrument makers who were originally best known for mandolins and violins had also developed an expertise in producing high quality Gypsy-Jazz guitars in the 1930’s -40s and were ideally placed to produce lower to medium priced steel strung acoustic parlour styled guitars that were in demand in the 1950’s. The Catania instrument makers of Sicily were the prominent producers of these guitars ‘Catania Carmelo’ and ‘Ermelinda Silvestri’ were the biggest volume producers of that period. The Silvestri company was established in 1891 and changed its name to ‘S. Sgroi Silvestri’."
According to old Italian family books a man named "Santi Sgroi" was born in Catania in year 1870 and he married a "Ermelinda Delfina Maria Silvestri" who was born in San Martino Carano (near Modena) 10. February 1878. As profession "luthier" is listed. So that sounds like a fit.
They had 5 kids, Alarico (Rico) Sgroi (born 1899), Salvatore Sgroi, two more boys and one girl Maria Liboria Sgroi who only lived for 1 year from 1901 to 1902.
In address books from that time the family address is given as "via Ventimiglia 202, Catania" under "mandolin makers".
The "Ermelinda Silvestri" company was founded 1891.
There was also a relationship to Rome (Roma), maybe that's where she started as luthier?
https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=70002&d=1300818859
The newer label:
https://images.reverb.com/image/upl...90,w_620/v1520705460/cyhqpwoxh2bxrcrjhhoz.jpg
And:
https://5.allegroimg.com/original/0caba3/64f5bd6347ccbfb1d0939c345095
Santi Sgroi's own brand at that time was "S. Sgroi Mancuso" founded shortly before in 1888.
Example of "S. Sgroi Mancuso" label:
https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=128227&d=1419997332
Looks like at some point they also had a shop in Naples (Napoli):
https://images.reverb.com/image/upl...90,w_620/v1525872326/issefm6pzxuwuqaphjga.jpg
Regarding the Mancuso part: Santi Sgroi's mother was a born Mancuso. Santi's father Salvatore married Liboria Mancuso in 1858.
So when "S. Sgroi Mancuso" and "Ermelinda Silvestri" merged the new company was subsequently named "S. Sgroi Silvestri".
Sounds like it was always the fathers and mothers name together and hence I would guess that "S. Sgroi Silvestri" started actually when a son of them took over the company, probably their above mentioned son Salvatore? But there were two more sons who's names I didn't find, maybe one of them also started with "S".
Here's an quite interesting label that shows the new name "S. Sgroi Silvestri" and below word "già" means "already", so the label showed that the new company is the merger of both former company names.
And later:
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eeX7hS-A...nR5QCLcBGAs/s1600/Silvestri+S.Sgroi+LABEL.jpg
Undated add showing both original company names next to each other:
Ralf