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Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/320757
Tim Purcell - Posted - 07/19/2016: 11:01:26
Just bought this off eBay. Great shape. The shoe brackets are not the usual type but everything looks original. Nice hide head too. I was happy to see the 3/4" thick rim.
Tim
Edited by - Tim Purcell on 07/23/2016 07:52:05
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TLG - Posted - 07/19/2016: 14:16:30
Hey Tim,
I thought about bidding on that.
I have a Kalamazoo mandolin & my uncle's guitar he bought new about 1932
I want a Kalamazoo banjo to go with the guitar & mando
Tommy
Dustyman - Posted - 07/22/2016: 17:25:54
Real Nice , I didnt know they made a 3/4 rim model , that will make a fine banjo.
Tim Purcell - Posted - 07/23/2016: 06:47:59
quote:
Originally posted by mikehalloran
Is it a woodie or does it have a round steel rod?
That's a good question. I haven't taken it apart yet. I thought all Kalamazoo's had the wood bead cut into the top of the rim. I'm learning, however, that you never assume anything when it comes to some of these old banjos. If it has a rod in it, I'll probably leave it like it is for now and build another neck for it. Maybe make it a Kalamazoo 5- string.
I was wrong about the year. It's 1937-1941 year range.
Tim
Tim Purcell - Posted - 07/23/2016: 07:54:57
Unless it has a brass hoop, I slid a rare earth magnet on the inside of the head towards the top of the rim, it didn't draw the magnet. There is just enough space for the small magnet to slide in between the head and rim.
Tim
mikehalloran - Posted - 07/23/2016: 13:39:20
> I thought all Kalamazoo's had the wood bead cut into the top of the rim.<
Yea, I read that a lot but the ones I have seen have thin rims and a round rod. The rust where it contacts the head tells me steel but I've never put a magnet on one. I turn them upside down and rub a little beeswax on the bearing surface before mounting a new head.
Because of the thin rim, the other thing I do is install an upper co-rod. The Saga rods work great and screw right onto the upper bolt. This makes them feel much more stable. Not certain a thick rim would need this.
I should have friction tuners for these if you need one.
I have found a number of these over the years with the headstock stencil missing for one reason or the other. The owner takes it to "music store guy" who counts the 16 brackets and declares it a Harmony or Kay worth $50 or so. I would always email and explain the significance of three resonator brackets—and then they'd argue! OK... I was often the only bidder or would just punch Buy It Now. I don't see that much anymore as people become more educated and learn how to use search engines. Still...
Edited by - mikehalloran on 07/23/2016 13:53:50
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