partyofone - Posted - 11/28/2008:  19:11:46

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Happy Belated Thanksgiving.

I just picked up a new banjo yesterday. The instrument was owned by my wife's grandfather, who passed about 18 months ago. The banjo was offered to me, so I gladly accepted. He took it with him when he was in the service during WW II. On the head is his name, Lt. Chalmer S. Detwiler and his company insignia. Because of this, the head won't be changed.

I was surprised when I opened the case and saw it. It turned out to be a Bacon Style C, 17 fret tenor. The pics can be seen in my photo album.

http://www.banjohangout.org/myhango...albumid=2338

As far as I know, everything on it is original, except the strings and maybe the bridge. The head is calfskin and is completely intact and not sagging. The neck is nice and straight. The finish is good, but it does show some age. The tuners don't slip. There are a couple bent hooks, but only slightly.

Now for the questions:

1. According to the serial number, the year of manufacture appears to be 1922. Does that sound about right?

2. What would be an approximate value, for insurance purposes?

3. What's the safest thing to use to clean the wood, especially the fingerboard? I have a baritone uke to clean too. (but that's for a different forum.)

4. Any recommendations for tenor bridge? The S.S. Stewart one is a little narrow and a little crooked.

Thanks,
Erik

If we weren''t all crazy, we''d all go insane. -Jimmy Buffett

RONLD - Posted - 11/28/2008:  19:23:45

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Murphys to clean, lemon oil to beautify the fretboard. I can make you a bridge for it - send me a message ifinterested. Congratulations Erik !

Job 33:4 - Fitch fan #1

jbalch - Posted - 11/28/2008:  19:27:32

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There is a similar banjo on ebay now. You might like to check it out for comparison. See item# 330288753383.




www.johnbalchmusic.com
www.myspace.com/johnbalch

mikehalloran - Posted - 11/28/2008:  19:27:54

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Tenor bridges, in general are too narrow for many players. Unslotted bridges can be had and are my preference. If the standard four string spacing is fine, then start with a Grover while you spend hours and hours going over these boards to find the Ne Plus Ultra bridge of your dreams.

Cleaning the board will get you tons of responses from many people. I do not believe in oiling a board except for cosmetic purposes. CF Martin and Co. uses 3-In-One oil. A drop on a lint free rag and a little elbow grease (and a popsicle stick if the crud is caked on) works for me. Murphy's to clean is a good suggestion.

1922 was the heyday for tenor banjos.

This does not have a resonator? The original style resonator is very hard to find (I don't think it was offered as early as 1922 anyway) as it has a chrome plated flange attached with screws. No one makes this anymore. My Bacon B (same banjo with a few minor differences) was extremely loud with its resonator assembly attached. If you do find a resonator assembly left over from a 5 string conversion, buy it -- quite rare.

You could adapt a Stew-Mac or SAGA resonator kit -- the ones that have individual flanges if you want to resonate this puppy.

The Elton hubcap resonator is not original to the eBay banjo -- but these were sold back then.

Mike Halloran

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Edited by - mikehalloran on 11/28/2008 20:02:48

Bill Rogers - Posted - 11/28/2008:  19:45:01

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I'd use Formula 409 to clean everything. I don't oil my fingerboards any more, but this is a matter of dispute as of yet--there's simply no consensus.

Bill

carlb - Posted - 11/29/2008:  06:13:40

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quote:

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Originally posted by partyofone

I was surprised when I opened the case and saw it. It turned out to be a Bacon Style C, 17 fret tenor.

Now for the questions:

1. According to the serial number, the year of manufacture appears to be 1922. Does that sound about right?

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Erik,

The actual dates of manufacture are not known exactly. The data base I posted is mainly for internal resonator Bacons but there are a few C style instruments listed.
http://c.b.baron.home.att.net/Bacon...njoData.html
You serial number, looks like 7830, is probably in the middle late period. The first Sliver Bell listed is #8750 which should give an approximate time when the name switched from Bacon to Bacon and Day (or B&D).

Carl


"Just around the corner is someone who plays better than you....." "There will always be someone who likes your music and someone who dislikes your music. Get over it......." [Dan Haerle, former music prof at University of North Texas]

mikehalloran - Posted - 11/29/2008:  08:04:59

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The "C" was present in the 1923 catalog but gone by the '30s. 1922 is as good a year as any other.

Mike Halloran