Kalamazoo serial numbers

[Bill Snyder]

Does anyone have a source for dating a Kalamazoo by its serial number.
Actually I do not know that it the serial number. It is the number on the back of the headstock. #EK-2444.

[Givson]

Kalamazoos did not have serial numbers. The number you see is a factory order number. I believe the letter "E" in the number translates to 1939.

[Bill Snyder]

This is the mandolin in question. The pictures look pretty good. I was just wondering what year it is and what its value might be.

[MikeEdgerton]

The Gruhn guide gives the details of your KM-21 and will allow you to date it within a few years based on headstock shape and a few other things. You can positively ID the first year because they made changes in the second. I'm not near my copy of the book right now.

[Givson]

Here is the info on Kalamazoo/Gibson factory order numbers. E definitely corresponds with the year 1939:

"F O Ns for the years 1935-1941 usually consisted of the batch number, a letter for the year and the instrument number. Examples are as follows:

Code Letter and Year

A 1935
B 1936
C 1937
D 1938
E 1939
F 1940
G 1941"

For more info, go to this link: http://www.guitarattic.com/Gibson%20...%20Numbers.htm

As to the value of your instrument, Kalamazo archtop mandolins had tops that were pressed, rather than carved, so they are worth less than a Gibson A40 or A50 of the same era.

[MikeEdgerton]

This is actually a KM-22, not a KM-21. They were built from 1939 to 1942. The pickguard is probably original as the KM-22 had a bound pickguard and fingerboard. The headstock shape puts it in those years as well. The description is:

A Style body, f-holes, maple back and sides, clamshell tailpiece cover, bound top and back, bound pickguard, bound fingerboard, dot inlay, sunburst finish.

None of the Gibson 2nd lines had truss rods (although I did see one later Kalamazoo that did have one). The top and back were pressed and not carved as mentioned above.

As for value, on a good day it might get between $400.00 and $500.00 on that well known auction site, on a bad day it might get less. The Bluebook would list it higher, George would appraise it higher. I will say one thing, it looks to be in great shape. I'm surprised they would stamp a FON on the outside, it isn't their usual way of doing things. I've never seen a Kalamazoo that was serial numbered though.

[Bill Snyder]

Well there are five more days left on the auction and it is over $300 so I think I will pass.
It does appear to be a nice looking mandolin though.

[jaycat]

I am bumping this thread as, for some reason, I took a notion to peer into my Kalamazoo with a flashlight, and found "793011" stamped inside. This was sold to me as a 1942 KM-12. Any thoughts?

(Actually it is this one: http://www.retrofret.com/products.asp?ProductID=5978, sold to me thru a third party).

[MikeEdgerton]

I have my books at home. You can generally date a Kalamazoo by the features such as the headstock shape, etc. but there are FONs listed for them in Joe Spann's book. I believe they only used that open headstock design on one of two years and one or two models. It should be easy to ID.

[Dale Pauline]

I just purchased what I believe is a KM-22 with bound front & back, fretboard and pickguard. But, has the FON 1048D 45 dating to 1938. Maybe early KM-22 or a KM-21 with these options?

[Dale Pauline]

Here are some pics-

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/gr...=grouppictures

[MikeEdgerton]

I am bumping this thread as, for some reason, I took a notion to peer into my Kalamazoo with a flashlight, and found "793011" stamped inside. This was sold to me as a 1942 KM-12. Any thoughts?

(Actually it is this one: http://www.retrofret.com/products.asp?ProductID=5978, sold to me thru a third party).

7931H (it's a FON) is a 1942 KM-12. I'm pretty sure that 11 is actually an H. It should be in the 43 year or greater. I don't find any listing for a KM-12 or any other Kalamzoo mandolins with the open book headstock but Gibson was known to sweep the floors for parts for their second line instruments. Whatever they had available they used.

The pickguard should be unbound. I suspected it might be a KM-22 but the fretboard is unbound.

[MikeEdgerton]

I just purchased what I believe is a KM-22 with bound front & back, fretboard and pickguard. But, has the FON 1048D 45 dating to 1938. Maybe early KM-22 or a KM-21 with these options?

I think it's a KM-22. The years at times overlapped a bit. The Spann list is not complete so we don't see that FON listed but it's in the range to be in the 39-42 that this mandolin was available.

[Masterbilt]

I am bumping this thread as, for some reason, I took a notion to peer into my Kalamazoo with a flashlight, and found "793011" stamped inside. This was sold to me as a 1942 KM-12. Any thoughts?

(Actually it is this one: http://www.retrofret.com/products.asp?ProductID=5978, sold to me thru a third party).

According to Retrofret's description the number is actually 7930H - this is a Gibson FON, not serial #. The code letter H indicates 1942. The adjacent FON 7931H is listed in Joe Spann's book as KM-12 batch.

Felix

[jaycat]

Thank you, Mike and Felix.