Mystery mandolin

[micall5]

I know the person selling this mandolin and am curious if anyone knows anything about it. It's got a rubbed off Martin sticker but apparently put on there for a joke. He found it nailed through the fretboard in an old barn to the wall (ouch). He's a great picker and a also as a luthier and was able to fix the fretboard very well. It play alright and is very very loud. The action is set really high and with the unusual depth of the body, it has a lot of bass.
I was sure if I posted some pictures in this message board, someone would be interested to see it and possibly know something about it. So if you know anything about it, let me know. Also, what it would sell for. A couple hundred, or maybe more if it played well???

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i135/micall5/DSC_8531.jpg

[micall5]

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i135/micall5/DSC_8532.jpg

[micall5]

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i135/micall5/DSC_8536.jpg

[micall5]

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i135/micall5/DSC_8538.jpg

[micall5]

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i135/micall5/DSC_8533.jpg

[micall5]

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i135/micall5/DSC_8539.jpg

[olddavy]

Its a Kay mandolin...It might have a Kay Kraft name or even recording king or some other name. They are fun....I have a mando..tennor..and guitar from the stromberg voicinett era...

[NoNickel]

Also could have had a Old Kraftsman label (still would have been made by Kay though). Back and sides are probably mahogany. I am looking for one like this. They are great knock around instruments properly set up and with a new bridge. I have seen them go for $150 to $200 in really good shape.

[micall5]

Thanks.. I knew it would take only minutes to get an answer in here. Now that I know a name to look up I feel silly considering the amount of information out there on Kay. Especially with a title like "mystery mandolin." I have never seen a mandolin like this before and assumed it was more rare but looks the opposite. Though it does seem like a good instrument and is super LOUD.
Michael

[MikeEdgerton]

The headstock shape was used by Kay on A style mandolins as well. They were sold under many labels and many were sold with no label at all. Hans bought one of these last year and I expected to see a Brentrup with this body style. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[MikeEdgerton]

If anyone is looking for one of these here's one with the Airline brand name on it that's going off on ebay in about an hour. NFI.

Kay built Airline Mandolin (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190181501170&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fse arch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm37%26satitle%3D 190181501170%26fvi%3D1)

[allenhopkins]

Initial bid of $99, plus $30 shipping, Kluson tuners, pickguard still attached, case included -- closed with no bidders. Well worth the $130, IMHO.