Help identifying Vintage Oriole Mandolin

[mrscri81@yahoo.com]

Hello everyone! I have a vintage Oriole Mandolin that was found in my grandmothers shed. No case or anything but I cannot find ANYTHING that looks like this one. I have been told 1942 Kalamazoo KMN-12 but I have not seen any photos of that type that look like mine. In fact, I have not seen any photos that even have the Oriole logo on the neck like mine does. Can someone help with identification or with explaining how mine fits in the category they are putting it in. Thank you so very much!

[MikeEdgerton]

It is not a Kalamazoo Oriole nor was it built by Gibson. You have a mandolin, most likely built in Chicago by Harmony or Regal in the circa 1920's that has that name on it. It may have been added later. Both companies made a similar model and I'd have to dig to figure out which company actually built it. It doesn't fit into the category they are putting it in and they are simply looking at what is most likely the Gruhn Guide and making a guess and they are wrong.

[rcc56]

Your mandolin was not made in the Gibson factory. It appears to be a low end instrument built by one of the Chicago manufacturers.
My first guess is that it was built by either Harmony or Kay.
This instrument is a peculiarity because it is the only "Oriole" branded instrument I have ever heard of that was not made by Gibson.
It also occurred to me that the Oriole badge might have been added later.

[brunello97]

Yes...you are right. This doesn't bear any connection or relationship to the "Oriole" mandolins that Gibson produced through its Kalamazoo line in the '30s.

Yours was perhaps built by one of the large Chicago builders of the day and marketed to the 'trade' to be labeled for their own purposes, in this case, for whatever reasons the same name: "Oriole".

I've had a hunch that Gibson named their mandolins after the bird as they shared the same color, but that's pure speculation.

The Gibson / Kalamazoo Orioles had tops and backs pressed into their shape reminiscent of a puffing chest of the bird...if we want to take that reference a bit further.

Mick

PS Looks like I'm slower on the draw and these other gentleman have provided some hints for who might have been behind yours. The inset tuners suggest to me a slightly earlier era and might help place it amongst the Chicagoans Mike references.
Late '20s / early '30s maybe?

[mrscri81@yahoo.com]

Thank you all so very much! Very helpful and I am so glad I asked. Is it worth selling online?

[William Smith]

Looks like a supertone or the like-Chicago made more than likely as they made 1000's during the depression era under different names.

[MikeEdgerton]

Looks like a supertone or the like-Chicago made more than likely as they made 1000's during the depression era under different names.

Teens to 20's at best. Nobody was using those tuners by '29.

[MikeEdgerton]

Thank you all so very much! Very helpful and I am so glad I asked. Is it worth selling online?

The slightly later models are online daily at less than $100.00 and many fail to sell. Yours is a little earlier and someone might want it for the tuners. Set a high reserve and see how far it goes then relist it.