pooch - Posted - 10/30/2009:  18:23:24

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I have an older Buckbee banjo circa1885/1900. I have heard that Buckbee only marked their banjos with a J H B on the neck. Is this accruate or did they label,paint or use nameplates also?
I know Buckbee made a bunch of banjos for others to market under their own labels.

Thanks for your info

Pooch

jbalch - Posted - 10/30/2009:  19:46:26

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I think you are right. Buckbee did not mark their "own-make" banjos except a few that bear the initials "JHB" stamped on the heel.




johnbalchmusic.com
myspace.com/johnbalch

ambpicker - Posted - 10/31/2009:  08:03:24

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quote:

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Originally posted by jbalch

I think you are right. Buckbee did not mark their "own-make" banjos except a few that bear the initials "JHB" stamped on the heel.




johnbalchmusic.com
myspace.com/johnbalch

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I have one of these. It needs some minor restoration, but nothing is cracked or broken.

Leslie

BrittDLD1 - Posted - 10/31/2009:  11:35:42

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Here's a Buckbee maker's plate -- from a later, c1890-1900 banjo.
(Has a "Boston-style" heel -- but otherwise, classic Late-Buckbee.)



Best-
Ed Britt

••• A good fiddle tune will bring two or more people together who might otherwise be enemies. •••

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Edited by - BrittDLD1 on 10/31/2009 11:38:21

jbalch - Posted - 10/31/2009:  11:53:48

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That is cool Ed. I've never seen one of those Buckbee name plates before. I bet they are rare.


johnbalchmusic.com
myspace.com/johnbalch

BrittDLD1 - Posted - 10/31/2009:  15:14:04

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quote:

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Originally posted by jbalch

That is cool Ed. I've never seen one of those Buckbee name plates
before. I bet they are rare.

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Hi John-
It's the only one I've seen, too...

But I swear a friend had one with "J.H Buckbee" stamped, in the
usual spot, on the side of the heel... Long gone. Can't verify it.

Best-
Ed Britt

••• A good fiddle tune will bring two or more people together who might otherwise be enemies. •••

pooch - Posted - 10/31/2009:  18:24:06

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Thanks Ed ,it certainly looks like an original plate for the time period. Mine has the J H B . However it is still an excellent banjo for old time pickin.
Thanks to all who responded.

Pooch

deuceswilde - Posted - 10/31/2009:  18:51:25

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At the rate they pumped out banjos, I would not put anything past the Buckbee factory.

They were even capable of really good work.

-Joel Hooks

Success always comes to those who have the money to buy it.

-The Adventures of a Banjo Player, 1884 p.26

JohnDickison - Posted - 05/06/2010:  11:22:15

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I have a friend that has a Banjo that has been handed down to him from his uncle that has the name: August Pollmann Silver Chime on the finger board at the base. On the inside metal plate is marked with ?.??.85 stamped in. if you could tell more about this Banjo or someone to talk to about we would really like to know more on its history and what vaule it might have in todays market.
Thanks again for your time. Edit: Go here: banjohangout.org/topic/178022

SGT. John Dickison
C-Co 2/211th GSAB (AA)
Saint Paul, MN.
651-357-3684

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Edited by - Bill Rogers on 06/08/2010 11:34:19

millwheel - Posted - 05/06/2010:  17:09:48

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I have a "400" (on the peghead) Buckbee banjo which has the JHB initials on the bass side of the heel. It is also "double spun," i.e., shiny metal on both sides of the rim. I always guessed that the "400" might have referred to the 400 high-society people "worth knowing" in NYC in the "Gay Nineties." Has anyone ever heard of this Buckbee model?