Help identify: unusual body shape

[rog97123]

A friend paid $70 for this instrument. I can find no identifying marks, although the carving on the back of the headstock may have included a name banner before it was worn off. The top is segmented, with a dihedral angle just north of the bridge line.

Anybody have any ideas?

[MikeEdgerton]

It was built by Stromberg-Voisenet in Chicago. They became Kay. You can thumb through these threads discussing these while you're waiting for more answers.

[EdHanrahan]

$70 is a great price (usually several hundred), assuming that crack across the front of the headstock is solidly repaired.

As a generality, they're well-but-very-lightly built, so have the potential to sound good, although far from a bluegrass machine. They have (I think), the 13" scale length that's common on Martin mandolins and very little else, whereas Gibson and most modern ones use a 13 7/8 scale.

The original black plastic (bakelite?) pickguard was held on by those two guitar bridge pins in the top. The outline of it may show in any fading or patina of the soundboard.

[pops1]

As Ed says these are built light so very light strings are necessary. nice find.

[Jeff Mando]

.....with a dihedral angle just north of the bridge line.

Dihedral, eh? This sure ain't no rock'n'roll forum! That's pilot talk.......

Of course, we get our share of golfers, too, who like to talk about "divots" in the fingerboard.......

[rog97123]

Correct on all points. I can just make out the outline of the pickguard.

[rog97123]

You pegged me! Not current for many years, but a pilot!

[MikeEdgerton]

Correct on all points. I can just make out the outline of the pickguard.

It would look like this: