wvwood - Posted - 11/28/2009:  04:17:33

I am looking for information on a Supertone open back,5 string.It's a friends banjo left to her by her grand father.Whoever owned this one certainly enjoyed it.I don't think I've ever seen a fretboard so worn before.
The serial # is 408.
Thanks for all the help.
Keith

pearcemusic - Posted - 11/28/2009:  08:21:37

beezaboy - Posted - 11/28/2009:  08:46:54

Pearcemusic - Really liked the catalog scan. Can you tell what catalog?
What year? Would you that scan to my email? I'm doing some research
on tenor banjos and this would be helpful.
Thanks,

R Buck - Posted - 11/28/2009:  08:52:17

Supertone banjos were sold by Sears and Roebuck. I have known folks who owned them, inherited them and loved them. They are fine instruments for the strata they represent in the world of banjos. I have an old Martin guitar that I have inherited that has a very worn fingerboard from playing thousands of hours of fiddle tunes behind the family fiddle. That is part of the charm and grace of this instrument which I cherish. Old instruments have a certain mojo that comes from all of the music and love amd memories.

A friend has an old Supertone with a mother of toilet seat peghead overlay and fingerboard. It is on par with an SS Stewart, or Washburn, Lyon and Healy. Good solid instruments that are worth taking care off and getting a good luthier to go over and get back to snuff.

pearcemusic - Posted - 11/28/2009:  08:53:15

quote:

---

Originally posted by beezaboy

Pearcemusic - Really liked the catalog scan. Can you tell what catalog?
What year? Would you that scan to my email? I'm doing some research
on tenor banjos and this would be helpful.
Thanks,

---

pearcemusic - Posted - 11/28/2009:  08:56:11

quote:

---

Originally posted by beezaboy

Pearcemusic - Really liked the catalog scan. Can you tell what catalog?
What year? Would you that scan to my email? I'm doing some research
on tenor banjos and this would be helpful.
Thanks,

---

Bluegrass-Gibbs - Posted - 11/28/2009:  12:02:12

Supertones are fantastic! I have 2 - one strung with nylguts and one with steel. I love them both dearly but play the steel strung one mainly (it has a slightly better set up at the moment plus a new fiberskyn head and new hardware, which helps) have a look at my photos for more details. Pearce music sent me the scan he put in the post, and it's so cool to own something that was around nearly 100 years ago and mass produced at that!

NYCJazz - Posted - 11/28/2009:  16:09:28

I believe the Supertone banjos sold by Sears were made by William L. Lange... Best known for the Orpheum and Paramount lines. Lange also made tons of banjos and parts for other manufacturers.

timmo_1949 - Posted - 11/29/2009:  07:36:52

pearcemusic;

Will you please send me a copy of that scan? Thanks.

Tim Smith
timmo_1949@comcast.net

wvwood - Posted - 11/29/2009:  09:41:45

Thanks for the quick and informative responses.I knew this would be the best place to start.