Trapshot - Posted - 09/21/2012:  04:33:28

Hello all, New to this forum. Out of the closet it comes. Trying to find more about this banjo B&D Rajah Serial # 32358 Groton , Conn

I think its around 1932-33 era

Thanks any more info would be great

Ed K

beezaboy - Posted - 09/21/2012:  08:07:16

In an old thread we gathered together many of the "private label" banjos made by Bacon.

Rajah was one of them.

You can look here to get some ideas:

acoustudio.dk/BD_and_Bacon_database.html 

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 09/21/2012:  23:29:30

Ed,



The "Rajah" was originally a "private-Label" model, made by Bacon, for the large distributor -- The Chicago Musical Instruments Co (CMI).



It was one of several specific models made for CMI, and shown in CMI's big Dealer catalogs, of the 1930s.

However it seems, that Bacon also marketed the "Rajah" model themselves from appr. 1937.

I´ve never seen an example from the early/mid 30s - till now - in my database I have only two examples from 1937/38 plus three examples built by Gretsch in the late 60s.

I´ll include yours in the database acoustudio.dk/BD_and_Bacon_database.html

BTW - the fretboard on yours seems to have been replaced in the past - the same goes for the tailpiece.

Regards

Polle

Trapshot - Posted - 09/22/2012:  03:19:08

Hello Polle
Yes, The fret board has been changed and I have all the orginal ivory inlay thats need to be completed, The orginal tail piece was a oettinger four finger, but one of the fingers was broken, love to find a replacement for it.
I can assume this might be one of the first private labels made around 1932
Thats neat!
Thanks for the info
Ed

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 09/22/2012:  05:06:47

Ed,

Great - yours is for now the first example in my DB - dated late 1932.  I don´t know, when the model was produced/included in the CMI catalog for the first time - if any further infos about this will pop up, I´ll let you know.

If you´ll want to have it brought back to the original looks - inclusive of a renewed replacement of the FB and including your original MOP inlays - this site will give you some hints: banjoworld.de/High422.htm

Regarding the tailpiece - the costly Oettinger was standard only for the Silver Bell models back then - I guess, that the original TP on yours was a standard Presto.

However an Oettinger will be a great improvement - musically - so do keep an eye open for a replacement finger. I do myself have some in stock, but these are all gold plated.

Polle

Trapshot - Posted - 09/23/2012:  01:38:44

Polle,

Thanks, If anything else comes along ,I surely will pass it on. Please if you do come across a finger for the tail piece ,please let me know!

Wow ,I just look at the pictures on the site, Never realize the Rajah was a Silver Bell Model

thanks again

Regards

Ed K

Edited by - Trapshot on 09/23/2012 01:44:23

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 09/23/2012:  02:41:41

Ed,

No - the Rajah isn´t a Silver Bell model - it doesn´t have a SB tone ring.

A mistake by banjo guru Guenter Amendt at his site.

Polle