Re: Couple of interesting instruments on Nashville CL
Originally Posted by
David
...Never heard of this company in relation to Gibson. Looks like a Gibson top, but weird that it's got the old teens-style bridge on a '30s instrument. Anyone know anything about these?...
"Kel Kroydon" -- no one seems to know where the name originates -- was the brand Gibson gave to a line of budget instruments in the early 1930's. Fighting the Depression, Gibson also put the name on a line of -- yes! -- toy sailboats which they manufactured, presumably from leftover instrument wood. Kel Kroydon instruments were sold by certain music stores, and reportedly also through large mail-order houses like Sears and Monkey Ward. Recently, a small banjo maker has resurrected the nameplate for his instruments; I guess Gibson's not interested in it any more.
Mostly I've seen Kel Kroydon banjos, and a few guitars; a Kroydon KK-1 guitar sold here for $3K Canadian. So even these "off brand" Gibsons can bring serious prices. This one sorta looks like the flat-top Kalamazoo mandolins -- another Gibson budget line. One of those went on eBay for under $300, but I've seen them in the mid-hundreds, so maybe the seller can get $700 for it. Perhaps more historical interest as a rarity, than player's value -- I dunno...
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
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