Kalamazoo Oriole mandolin

[abassman2]

I recently bought a Kalamazoo Oriole mandolin. I love the way it plays and sounds. There is a brass adjustable bridge on it. Can someone give me some information about this model mandolin and about the use of a brass bridge. The part of the bridge that touches the top of the mandolin is wood but the top is brass. Was this stock or aftermarket? What other brands use a brass bridge? Does the brass bridge take away some quality sound? Thanks,
Tom

[mojocaster]

Pics. Pics would help. And they'd be entertaining, too

[rcc56]

Some of Gibson's electric mandolins came from the factory with brass saddles. Those saddles were cylindrical. But I do not recall seeing a factory original bridge with a brass saddle on any Gibson acoustic mandolin, or any instrument with the Kalamazoo brand. My guess is that your bridge, or at least the saddle, is after-market. Gibson did briefly use aluminum saddles on mandolins built in 1921. Some people like them, some do not. I have found they sound very good on certain instruments.

The Oriole model was called KMN-12, and was made from 1940 to 1942. Paul Fox's book "The Other Brands of Gibson" states that 816 were made, but that number sounds high to me because Oriole mandolins are rarely seen.

And yes, lots of us would like to see pictures of an Oriole mandolin.

[MikeEdgerton]

Some of Gibson's electric mandolins came from the factory with brass saddles. Those saddles were cylindrical. But I do not recall seeing a factory original bridge with a brass saddle on any Gibson acoustic mandolin, or any instrument with the Kalamazoo brand. My guess is that your bridge, or at least the saddle, is after-market. Gibson did briefly use aluminum saddles on mandolins built in 1921. Some people like them, some do not. I have found they sound very good on certain instruments.

The Oriole model was called KMN-12, and was made from 1940 to 1942. Paul Fox's book "The Other Brands of Gibson" states that 816 were made, but that number sounds high to me because Oriole mandolins are rarely seen.

And yes, lots of us would like to see pictures of an Oriole mandolin.

I believe that number is high as well and barring some never seen catalog page I would assume the bridge top was replaced as well.

The question of the brass bridge taking away or adding to the sound is pretty subjective.