Question on old Bauer guitars

[Matthew Lau]

Dear MIMF,

I normally avoid ebay, but I'd succumbed to the allure of an old SS Stewart guitar.

When it arrived today, I opened it to find an interesting beast:
Adirondack spruce on Braz Rosewood.
Very light, non-parallel ladder bracing. More similar to the Viennese school than the Gibson bracing.
Some metal posted tuning machines. I believe they are Waverlies.
Through simple deduction: not Gibson, not Martin, something different but well made--I presume it's made by Bauer.

Any information regarding these instruments?

I'd like to restore this guitar back to life.
Then, I'll either play it or give it a home with someone far more deserving.

[Simon Magennis]

Here's a link I turned up. http://www.19thcenturyguitar.com/index. ... &Itemid=62

The first section gives a brief history of Stewert & Bauer.