1930s ward - kalamazoo

[brandt]

I just bought this little mandolin and I know that it is a Montgomery Ward catalog A style made by Kalamazoo but that's it. #

If any of you vintage experts can tell me more please... educate me.

Btw, this place is dangerous... #I thought GAS was bad - #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

http://static.flickr.com/121/308655280_2f70d81876.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/120/308655275_57632e7781.jpg

[Jim Garber]

According to Gruhn, this would be either a model 807 or model 1610 mandolin similar to the Kalamazoo KM-11. Dates of production are 1934-mid-1936.

Here is a KM-11:
http://www.vintage-guitars.se/1930s_Kalamazoo_KM-11_778B.jpg

Jim

[brandt]

Thanks Jim - so that's what a clean one is supposed to look like. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Anyone care to give an estimate to value or range based on clean to... well... let's say well loved?

I must say that mine certainly has a nice sound - rich tone - nice and dry and woody...

[fatt-dad]

I sold a KM-11 in medium condition (repaired back crack, a few difficult tuning machines and a scratch on the top) for $425.00. The buyer is happy and I made $10 or $20 bucks. I liked that mandolin, but alas preferred my Flatiron 1N - maybe the spruce/maple was better to my ear than the spruce/mahogany. I always enjoyed playing the KM-11 though . . . .

f-d

[mandolooter]

big poppa aka fatt-dad...I like your mando code at the bottom of your post...lol.

I loved the KM-11 I played and its one mando I passed up on but regret...it was a sweet little flat-top, and going for $400.00 at a festival a few years back. I played it for hours but wanted the extra cash more at the time....:(

[fatt-dad]

big poppa aka fatt-dad...I like your mando code at the bottom of your post...lol.
Not all mandos though. . . . .

f-d

[mandolooter]

hey...........I knew that http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Darryl Wolfe]

Are these essentially identical to the C-style Gibsons, including the picguard and such. Or were those carved top flat back. Hey I don't know everything http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif