Please Help - not much to go on

[harmonist34]

I'm potentially going to look at a mandolin this week...the auctioneer was only able to give me the sketchiest of details. It's an odd shaped body, and he was very confusing so I won't try to describe that.

A few clues:

something ending in "ean music company Kansas City, MO" on a sticker inside and a 3 digit serial number in the back.

Any ideas? I'll try to take a picture if I go see it...just wanted to see if anybody had a guess as to what the maker was from that little bit.

Thanks,
Andy

Also - he said it had 2 holes on the top, but they were both round?!?!

[GVD]

Could you be a little more vague? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[harmonist34]

Point well taken. ; Þ

I just hadn't heard of an instrument company based in KC, so I thought that might be a useful clue. Hey..people like detective stuff...that's why CSI:Des Moines, etc. are so big.

I'm waiting for a call back from the guy, so I'll have more info shortly.

Andy

[odeman]

There used to be a "Jenkins Music Co." in Kansas City, MO. They might have private labeled through Chicago Music ( Harmony ) or some other similar manufacturer. A lot of music and department store chains did that in the '30's through the '60's - almost impossible to trace.

[Brookside]

There is a KC Strings, a violin shop here in town. "Ings" sort of sounds like "eans."

From the information he gave you it could just as easily be a tuba or something.

[pathfinder]

Quote:
"Also - he said it had 2 holes on the top, but they were both round?!?!"

I doubt if it's an old resophonic mandolin, unless the screens are missing which would've permitted the auctioneer to look inside. #If there's two matching holes on the back, they may have been created by the last owner (or a heckler) expressing some anger with a firearm!

Either way, it doesn't sound like a well-known 'collectible' mandolin, so it's not likely going to sell for much. #But it might have a good sound, so who knows? #Keep us posted.

[harmonist34]

I got my question answered when the guy sent me a picture of the "mandolin". ( :

Check out www.nowhereradio.com/harmonist02


Oh well...

[pathfinder]

Geez! #That thing could be called a lot of things, but a 'mandolin' ain't one of them. #

Load yer gun and put a few more holes in it! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Tim Saxton]

OMG Pull the car over, I think I am gonna get sick.

Tim Saxton http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[Jim Garber]

It is called an American Art Guitar (http://www.angelfire.com/country/fiddlin/design.html#aag) and is a zither variant. It is missing its armrest, tho.

It is amazing how the word "mandolin" crops up to describe whenever unknowing folks can't come up with any other name.

Jim

[bratsche]

Not really amazing, when you consider the name "mandolin" got tacked onto all these kitchen vegetable slicer devices, as well. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

bratsche