Mandolin?

[sundance1]

Just picked up this mandolin, I love guitars, but know absolutely nothing about a mandolin. It needs a little work cosmetically, plays good, although I would need to learn how to properly play a mandolin. Its a Kalamazoo EK 819 stamped on the headstock. Just cant find any information on it, any help would be appreciated, Just cant make up my mind if I should keep to learn to play and pass on to my son or sale, and take proceeds to purchase an older gibson guitar. Maybe you guys can help me decide. Here a couple of pictures. Again, any help would be much appreciated

[MikeEdgerton]

I believe that to be a Kalamazoo KM-11, made between late 1936 and 1941 when it was discontinued and I do believe the finish has been stripped from the top. It follows the catalog description with the exception of the finish on the top. The number stamped into the back of the headstock wasn't a model number. It also appears to be missing the tailpiece cover. Kalamazoo was a Gibson second line introduced in the 30's.

Here (http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Museum/Mandolin/Gibson/KalamazooAN/kalamazooan.html) are some images of what it looked like from Frank Ford's www.frets.com Museum.

The headstock shape on yours was one of three they used on this mandolin.

Here (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/search.php?query=km11&exactname=0&starteronly=0&forumchoice%5B%5D=&prefixchoice%5B%5D=&childforums=1&titleonly=0&searchdate=0&beforeafter=after&do=process) are several posts that discuss these mandolins. The applicable threads should jump out at you.

[Coffeecup]

As you have it and say it plays OK I would suggest keeping it for a while and putting a bit of time into learning to play it. We don't know your guitar experience of course, but many members here came to mandolin from guitar and found that mando playing improved their guitar playing too. If your son is keen on playing something, two different instruments could sound more interesting than duets on two of the same type.