Martian - Posted - 04/06/2018:  07:15:51

I just bought a flat back Kalamazoo banjo, and would like to know all about it, Brass hoop, no tone ring, and I can't believe how good it sounds,thanks

buckholler - Posted - 04/06/2018:  07:35:45

They were made by Gibson, for say. During the 30's Gibson was not cranking out a lot of instruments, so they created the Kalamazoo Toy Company and had their employees making toys and such. They also expanded to make low cost instruments with the Kalamazoo logo. Basically the parts (rims, hardware, etc) were all parts used in pre-war Gibson banjos. The resonators were all flat back, which is not the case with pre-war Gibsons. I'll assume it was just easier and less expensive to make. They normally did not have a brass hoop, but a wood bead on the top of the rim. More than likely yours was cut down a 1/4" and the someone added the hoop. (I did the same with my Kalamazoo when I converted it to a 5 string.)



Like Gibson at the time they made more tenor banjos than 5 stings, but they do exist. They also made guitars. I've never seen a Kalamazoo mandolin, but doesn't mean they don't exist either.



I love my Kalamazoo, and it will probably be the only pre-war Gibson banjo I'll ever own. But one can dream.

Edited by - buckholler on 04/06/2018 07:38:11

 

kyleb - Posted - 04/06/2018:  07:40:27

is it a 5 string?

RioStat - Posted - 04/06/2018:  07:47:04

quote:

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Originally posted by buckholler

They were made by Gibson, for say. During the 30's Gibson was not cranking out a lot of instruments, so they created the Kalamazoo Toy Company and had their employees making toys and such. They also expanded to make low cost instruments with the Kalamazoo logo. Basically the parts (rims, hardware, etc) were all parts used in pre-war Gibson banjos. The resonators were all flat back, which is not the case with pre-war Gibsons. I'll assume it was just easier and less expensive to make. They normally did not have a brass hoop, but a wood bead on the top of the rim. More than likely yours was cut down a 1/4" and the someone added the hoop. (I did the same with my Kalamazoo when I converted it to a 5 string.)



Like Gibson at the time they made more tenor banjos than 5 stings, but they do exist. They also made guitars. I've never seen a Kalamazoo mandolin, but doesn't mean they don't exist either.



I love my Kalamazoo, and it will probably be the only pre-war Gibson banjo I'll ever own. But one can dream.

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There were Kalamazoo mandolins and guitars built back then.

revellfa - Posted - 04/06/2018:  10:37:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote: <hr height="1" id="quote" noshade="noshade" /><i>Originally posted by <a href="/myhangout/home.asp?id=43441" ID="newtag-43441">RioStat</a></i><br /><blockquote id="quote">quote:

<hr height="1" id="quote" noshade="noshade" /><i>Originally posted by <a href="/myhangout/home.asp?id=71372" id="newtag-71372">buckholler</a></i>



<p>They were made by Gibson, for say. During the 30's Gibson was not cranking out a lot of instruments, so they created the Kalamazoo Toy Company and had their employees making toys and such. They also expanded to make low cost instruments with the Kalamazoo logo. Basically the parts (rims, hardware, etc) were all parts used in pre-war Gibson banjos. The resonators were all flat back, which is not the case with pre-war Gibsons. I'll assume it was just easier and less expensive to make. They normally did not have a brass hoop, but a wood bead on the top of the rim. More than likely yours was cut down a 1/4" and the someone added the hoop. (I did the same with my Kalamazoo when I converted it to a 5 string.)<br />

<br />

Like Gibson at the time they made more tenor banjos than 5 stings, but they do exist. They also made guitars.<span style="font-size: 16px;"><strong> I've never seen a Kalamazoo mandolin, but doesn't mean they don't exist either.</strong></span><br />

<br />

I love my Kalamazoo, and it will probably be the only pre-war Gibson banjo I'll ever own. But one can dream.</p>



<hr height="1" id="quote" noshade="noshade" /></blockquote>



<p>There were Kalamazoo mandolins and guitars built back then.</p>



<hr height="1" id="quote" noshade="noshade" /></blockquote><p></p>

I owned a nice kalamazoo mandolin once 

revellfa - Posted - 04/06/2018:  10:38:41

Check out our group Gibson Budget Brand Fans

<blockquote id="quote">quote: <hr height="1" id="quote" noshade="noshade" /><i>Originally posted by <a href="/myhangout/home.asp?id=43234" ID="newtag-43234">Martian</a></i><br /> <p>I just bought a flat back Kalamazoo banjo, and would like to know all about it, Brass hoop, no tone ring, and I can't believe how good it sounds,thanks</p>

<hr height="1" id="quote" noshade="noshade" /></blockquote><p></p>

Martian - Posted - 04/06/2018:  10:52:10

quote:

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Originally posted by kyleb

is it a 5 string?

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it is a 5, but has a hatfield neck on it. I played mando last night while my buddy played it, and I was very impressed by it all' plenty of volume, great tone

mikehalloran - Posted - 04/06/2018:  11:55:20

From reports here, most of these have a woody rim.



Every one I've seen had a 1/4" round steel rim with a corresponding rust stain on the inside of the head. I clean them up, turn them upside down and put a light coat of beeswax over the steel before reinstalling the head.



I've never seen one with a flange. Is that original?

Never seen one with an original Presto. Here is a Waverly off of the last Kalamazoo plectrum I worked on, missing its unengraved "cloud" cover—still sitting in my parts box.

Here's a couple of Kalamazoos with the correct cover:

Here's a page of mandolins from different companies, each with Waverly mandolin tailpieces and the same cover. Gibson would have engraved it on a 1 or higher model mandolin or banjo.

mandolincafe.com/news/publish/...443.shtml

Edited by - mikehalloran on 04/06/2018 12:00:38

buckholler - Posted - 04/06/2018:  12:45:07

No, had the flange made to match the shoe bracket pattern. I also have the original mandolin style tailpiece, tenor neck, bridge and hide head. Mine did not have a hoop just the wood bead.