Cromwell was a house brand trademark used on a budget line of guitars that were built by Gibson. These guitars were sold through a few midwestern mail order companies including Grossman, Continental, and Richter & Phillips. These guitars are similar to Gibson standards, but they do lack the truss rod that sets Gibsons with truss rods apart from the brands without. Cromwell branded instruments included acoustic archtops, acoustic flattops, tenor guitars, and mandolins. Source: Walter Carter, Gibson Guitars: 100 Years of an American Icon.
Instruments previously produced in Kalamazoo, MI by Gibson between circa 1935 and 1939. See chapter on House Brands.
