Wards / Gibson ?

[brunello97]

Here's one for Paul and Mike: 1949 Wards Ad.

I've heard rumors that Gibson made some instruments for Wards. I know the picture is pretty fuzzy, but does that one model look like a KM21 (with flat-end headstock?) Something else?

Mick

[pfox14]

That's the mandolin and banjo page from Ward's 1935-36 Fall/Winter catalog. Gibson made two of the mandolins. The mandolin 2nd from the left is a model 1610 which was basically a re-labeled Kalamazoo KM-11 flat-top round-hole mando, and the mandolin 4th from the left is a Ward's model 1607, which was similar to the Kalamazoo KM-21 arch-top f-hole mando. They only made these for less than 1 year. The 1607 was replaced by model #1642 in 1936, and it was pretty much the same exact design, but had a pointed roof peak peghead shape and no logo at all. They discontinued the 1610 in '36. Both the 1607 & 1610s had a flat-top peghead shape and had "Ward" stenciled on the peghead, so they are not Recording King models. I have no idea why the eBay listing has these dated as 1949.

[brunello97]

Thanks, Paul. So the seller's 1949 date is quite a bit off the mark?

Mick

[pfox14]

Yes, I added that onto my post. Gibson stopped making instruments for Wards in 1940.

[brunello97]

Yes, I added that onto my post. Gibson stopped making instruments for Wards in 1940.

Check. Not that I know, but the Post War date seemed kind of out of whack.

Mick