Dayton mandolins....

I grew up in Dayton, Ohio, and I was wondering if the Dayton Mandolin that I see every so often is from Dayton Ohio? Now I have not done a good Google as of yet, but keep me posted....thanks, dy.

Ah, Dayton. Spent a few years there in the late 60's working for what was then the National Cash Register Company.
Boy, am I old....

Yes, Dayton mandos were made in Dayton, Ohio. The label in one I saw a few years ago said "Dayton Musical Instument Company, Dayton, Ohio", or something close to that.

Daytons had a body-within-a-body design if I remember correctly, although on the outside they looked superfically similar to the A style Gibsons of the time. There's a picture of one in Gruhn's "Acoutic Guitars and Other Fretted Instruments" book.

I believe that Peter Mix at Rigel has had a Dayton or two pass through his hands. You might give him a holler by email or phone after IBMA if you're interested.

Of course if you're REALLY interested, you might well find some decent information about the company at the main branch of the Dayton Public Library. I'm sure that kind of info would be welcomed by many who track instrument history, myself included. Hope you do the search...

Here's a thread that might help.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....=dayton

Bob

Thanks so much for both of your's help on this...I'll keep you posted, dy.