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Thread: Key Brand Info?

  1. #51
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    And yet another unlabeled one can be found here.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  2. #52
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    For those that might be jonesing for one of these puppies there are several on eBay including this Harmony branded at $69.00 with no bids that will end in a few hours and this Lotus branded at $46.00 with no bids that will end in less than 45 minutes. Keep in mind they are both overpriced.
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    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  3. #53
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    Here's one with the brand name Morris on it.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  4. #54
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    And yet another branded Kingston:

    http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...5-Old-mandolin
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  5. #55
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  6. #56
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    Here is one branded Marlin.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  7. #57
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    Here's one being sold on eBay as a vintage Gibson mandolin except it's one of these that appears to be branded with the dreaded double B brand name.
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    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  8. #58
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    One branded Dixon.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  9. #59
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    Anyone that really wants to own on of these puppies is invited to peruse eBay this day. Right now there are several on the first pages of the Ending Soon listings:

    Branded Lotus:
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-LOTU...item2357ac6d5e

    Branded Lotus as well:
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOTUS-LM-6-E...item4af0fa253e

    Branded Kingston:
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kingston-Man...item1a065f370c

    Branded Ensenada:
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1950...item43e2f161b4

    No brand, listed as 1960's mandolin with case. Probably more 70-80's:
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/1960s-Mandol...item5424a8032b

    Cameo Mandolin Fixer Upper:
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cameo-Mandol...item1c59db5823

    NFI interest on any of these and PLEASE read this entire thread before you think about buying one of these. They are not a real good deal.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  10. #60
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    Sorry to bump an old thread - but which Japanese maker actually built these instruments? Every jobber seems to have had a rebranded version in the late 60-s to 70's.

    They were pressed laminate archtop f hole instruments, deep body, and seem to have either a straight end to the fingerboard or a curved end near the body, thin pickguard screwed to the body, etc.

    Reason - got one with a "Kay" tailpiece, no other marks, from a buddy for 50 bucks, restored it, strung it up, and it sounds pretty decent for a non-solid wood "not real good" instrument. I did get to examine it first, unlike ebay.

    So I was wondering if more info turned up - and yes I've searched as many threads as I can, but so far the maker seems to be unmentioned. Perhaps Teisco? Tombo? Fujigen?

  11. #61
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    Read the earlier posts. Could as likely be Korean made.
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  13. #62
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    As Jim mentioned these were made in Japan and Korea. I haven't a clue as to who the actual maker was. I think they are more 70's to 80's by the way.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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  15. #63
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    Thanks guys, maybe one day I'll solve the mystery of the actual maker. I'm betting on a Japanese maker rather than Korean; I've worked in the music retail and wholesale since the early 1970's and this design seems to have been around since the first US jobbers began importing Japanese instruments as replacements for Chicago made instruments.

    The Korean instruments came a bit later - and they seemed to zone in on making more accurate copies of the A and F mandolins from early on; Japanese makers did much the same.

    But you guys may be right about some being made in Korea, production may have shifted as the Japanese makers set up new factories in Korea.

    I realize these are cheap and not particularly valuable mandolins, but the history is interesting to me.

    I looked up some Kay catalogs, and these sort of instruments had a pretty long run - they were offered as early as 1973 and as late as 1987. The instruments could have been imported as early as 1970 since the Kay name was sold that year and the factory closed.

    Something like it still seemed available in 2008!

    http://www.kayguitar.com/products/mand10b.htm
    Last edited by DavidKOS; Oct-28-2015 at 6:35am.

  16. #64
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    In the late 60's we started seeing Japanese instruments that were actually very good. I never saw any of these until the 70's and in the early to mid 70's the country of origin du jour moved from Japan to Korea. In the early 70's the instruments being imported looked a lot more like the instruments being built in the US. There were even Batwings and the Kay two point model. In the later 70's these seemed to be the rage so that seems to fit with your time line.
    Last edited by MikeEdgerton; Oct-29-2015 at 1:38pm. Reason: Fixed typo
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  17. #65
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    In the late 60's we started seeing Japanese instruments that were actually very good. I never saw any of these until the 70's and in the early to mid 70's the country of origin du jour moved from Japan to Korea. In the early 70's the instruments being imported looked a lot more like the instruments being built in the US. There were even Batwings and the Kay two pint model. In the later 70's these seemed to be the rage so that seems to fit with your time line.
    Probably so, I saw some pics of the copy of the Harmony Batwing too.

    Thanks for the info.

  18. #66
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    ...There were even Batwings and the Kay two pint model....
    That was the one that sounded acceptable only after your second pint, right? Right after that, you started seeing batwings...

    Don't confuse it with the later Breedlove Quarts model.
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  19. #67
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    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    Point taken. I actually meant to go back and fix that.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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  21. #68

    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    This looks like it belongs in this thread:

    http://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/97152#97152

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    "FOR SALE A NEW ANTIQUE MARQUIS MANDOLIN BY HARMONY OF CHICAGO"
    THE MARQUIS MODEL WAS TOP OF THE LINE MANDOLIN FOR HARMONY
    THERE WERE VERY FEW OF THE MARQUIS MODEL MANUFACTURED
    THIS IS AN ESTATE FIND *VINTAGE* MANDOLIN STILL IN THE ORIGINAL BOX
    THIS IS AN UNUSED ANTIQUE MANDOLIN STILL IN NEW CONDITION
    THERE ARE NO SCRATCHES, DINGS OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND ON THE MANDOLIN
    THERE IS LITTLE INDICATION THE MANDOLIN HAS EVER BEEN PLAYED
    YOU WILL LOVE THIS MANDOLIN, IT WILL BE A REAL JOY TO OWN AND PLAY
    THIS IS A VERY RARE FIND AND IS ONE OF A KIND MANDOLIN
    PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT OUR OTHER MANDOLINS
    PRICE: $349.
    THANKS FOR LOOKING

  22. #69
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    It does, that's not a Chicago built Harmony it's one of these. I hope nobody makes a silly mistake and pays that much. These regularly fail to sell at $50.00 on eBay. The case is probably worth more than the mandolin.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  23. #70

    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    I sent a little note to the seller with a link to this discussion. I suppose it is possible that he actually believes his own ad copy, so maybe he would like to learn more about what he actually has.

  24. #71

    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    My Grandma was a spoilt woman and if she said " I like that it "got bought for her
    Anyhow I was given this instrument by her a long time ago and it has just sat gathering dust.
    She never played it no one knew how , I don't know how and am not instrumentally minded(to play ) so I would like to find out a little about it if anyone could help please.
    All i Know is has a gold tag on the bag that says Japan in and black writing. it says Kasuga at the top and The Kasuga at the bottom. it also has an inverted 3 piece diamond in between the tuning buttons at the top Can anyone help me find out what i have please?
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  25. #72

    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    Quote Originally Posted by laurap1 View Post
    My Grandma was a spoilt woman and if she said " I like that it "got bought for her
    Anyhow I was given this instrument by her a long time ago and it has just sat gathering dust.
    She never played it no one knew how , I don't know how and am not instrumentally minded(to play ) so I would like to find out a little about it if anyone could help please.
    All i Know is has a gold tag on the bag that says Japan in and black writing. it says Kasuga at the top and The Kasuga at the bottom. it also has an inverted 3 piece diamond in between the tuning buttons at the top Can anyone help me find out what i have please?
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    extra pics
    /Users/Laura/Desktop/IMG_2449.jpg /Users/Laura/Desktop/IMG_2448.jpg
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  26. #73
    Confused... or?
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    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    Quote Originally Posted by laurap1 View Post
    ... it got bought for her ... The Kasuga at the bottom.
    Approximate year, or even decade? Any labels or ink-stamps on the inside? Probably need a flashlight to see them.

    No expert here, but the general details (body shape, fretboard end, pickguard, plastic-knobbed tuners) look a lot like my low-end, beat-around Rover, a serviceable but not-at-all valuable instrument.

    Kasuga is a name unknown to me but, as others often point out, the Pac-rim factories will sell "customized" batches of their stock instruments to music stores, discount chains, maybe even schools, if enough are ordered.

    Edit: Whoops! The newly added close-up of the tuners look less like my Rover than the original shot does.
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  27. #74

    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

    Quote Originally Posted by EdHanrahan View Post
    Approximate year, or even decade? Any labels or ink-stamps on the inside? Probably need a flashlight to see them.

    No expert here, but the general details (body shape, fretboard end, pickguard, plastic-knobbed tuners) look a lot like my low-end, beat-around Rover, a serviceable but not-at-all valuable instrument.

    Kasuga is a name unknown to me but, as others often point out, the Pac-rim factories will sell "customized" batches of their stock instruments to music stores, discount chains, maybe even schools, if enough are ordered.

    Edit: Whoops! The newly added close-up of the tuners look less like my Rover than the original shot does.
    Click image for larger version. 

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    thanks Ed i didn't even think to look inside it says Custom model M18 1978

  28. #75

    Default Re: Key Brand Info?

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    Quote Originally Posted by laurap1 View Post
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    thanks Ed i didn't even think to look inside it says Custom model M18 1978

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