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Thread: The Kalamazoo Gals

  1. #1
    '`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' Jacob's Avatar
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    Default The Kalamazoo Gals

    Podcast: The Kalamazoo Gals of the Old Gibson Guitar Factory
    The story of the women who stepped up to produce thousands of guitars during World War II.

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Kalamazoo Gals

    A perennial favorite on the Cafe, always a good story!

    https://www.google.com/search?q=%22K...client=gws-wiz
    "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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    Default Re: The Kalamazoo Gals

    I've read the book, and listened to several interviews. Did they make any mandolins during World War 2? I have pre and post war Gibson mandolins, but no banners.

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    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Kalamazoo Gals

    Not to be confused with Gibson Girls:
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    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  7. #5
    Registered User grassrootphilosopher's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Kalamazoo Gals

    Quote Originally Posted by GMeyer View Post
    I've read the book, and listened to several interviews. Did they make any mandolins during World War 2? I have pre and post war Gibson mandolins, but no banners.
    That's a pretty darn interesting question. We all know that there are 1942 Gibson F-5 mandolins out there. There is one recorded in the mandolin archive. But was that before or after the "banner" was officially introduced? We know the banner started in 1942. We know that apart from banner flattop guitars there are banner archtop guitars https://images.reverb.com/image/uplo...ihwuugtbmx.jpg. But are there banner banjos. I doubt that. The so called "floor sweep" banjos of that time (f.ex. the former Sammy Shelor 75 and I don't know if it is a war time banjo) does not have a banner.

    The mandolin archive does show no mandolins in 1943-1945. Were mandolins produced in that timeframe? Who knows?
    Olaf

  8. #6
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Kalamazoo Gals

    Previous discussion. Click on the links for pictures.

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...40s-metal-ware
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

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

  9. #7
    Registered User grassrootphilosopher's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Kalamazoo Gals

    True, but ´42 was the USA´s entry year for WWII with some month of peace yet. So when in ´42 did the banners start? One would have to ask Willi Henkes (of antique acoustics, the (!) source on all things banner along with John Thomas). Technically you could own a Gibson J-35 and a Southerner Jumbo both from the same year of 1942. The J-35 would not and the Southerner Jumbo of course would have the banner.
    Olaf

  10. #8

    Default Re: The Kalamazoo Gals

    My buddy have a Gibson J-45 from 1943. I read the book too, It sets all the history of the old ones right onto new pages making it easier for learning. A fascinating info about guitars and social history

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