Kalamazoo serial numbers

[Bill Snyder]

Does anyone have a source for dating a Kalamazoo by its serial number.
Actually I do not know that it the serial number. It is the number on the back of the headstock. #EK-2444.

[Givson]

Kalamazoos did not have serial numbers. The number you see is a factory order number. I believe the letter "E" in the number translates to 1939.

[Bill Snyder]

This is the mandolin in question. The pictures look pretty good. I was just wondering what year it is and what its value might be.

[MikeEdgerton]

The Gruhn guide gives the details of your KM-21 and will allow you to date it within a few years based on headstock shape and a few other things. You can positively ID the first year because they made changes in the second. I'm not near my copy of the book right now.

[Givson]

Here is the info on Kalamazoo/Gibson factory order numbers. E definitely corresponds with the year 1939:

"F O Ns for the years 1935-1941 usually consisted of the batch number, a letter for the year and the instrument number. Examples are as follows:

Code Letter and Year

A 1935
B 1936
C 1937
D 1938
E 1939
F 1940
G 1941"

For more info, go to this link: http://www.guitarattic.com/Gibson%20Serial%20Numbers.htm

As to the value of your instrument, Kalamazo archtop mandolins had tops that were pressed, rather than carved, so they are worth less than a Gibson A40 or A50 of the same era.

[MikeEdgerton]

This is actually a KM-22, not a KM-21. They were built from 1939 to 1942. The pickguard is probably original as the KM-22 had a bound pickguard and fingerboard. The headstock shape puts it in those years as well. The description is:

A Style body, f-holes, maple back and sides, clamshell tailpiece cover, bound top and back, bound pickguard, bound fingerboard, dot inlay, sunburst finish.

None of the Gibson 2nd lines had truss rods (although I did see one later Kalamazoo that did have one). The top and back were pressed and not carved as mentioned above.

As for value, on a good day it might get between $400.00 and $500.00 on that well known auction site, on a bad day it might get less. The Bluebook would list it higher, George would appraise it higher. I will say one thing, it looks to be in great shape. I'm surprised they would stamp a FON on the outside, it isn't their usual way of doing things. I've never seen a Kalamazoo that was serial numbered though.

[Bill Snyder]

Well there are five more days left on the auction and it is over $300 so I think I will pass.
It does appear to be a nice looking mandolin though.