Ragtimejoe - Posted - 10/14/2012:  15:30:30

I was going through a box of old banjo parts from my last move (6 years ago) and found an interesting skin head:

Printed signature: Jos Rogers Jr Made In USA Superior Extra Warrented

Handwritten in pencil : 10 15/16 Vega tubaphone M # 81514 March 21-1931

The head appears to be in VG+ condition (bridge indentation marks only)

What is this head worth?

Thanks for any advice?

Joe

Edited by - Lynne on 10/14/2012 17:40:20

dculgan - Posted - 10/15/2012:  12:22:01

I don't like old hide banjo heads (talking like 50 - 100 years). I think they sound "dead". OK, so this is based on my experience with a sample of one, a Rogers head marked 1923 on a Little Wonder conversion. Others may hold them in greater esteem. Dave

banjered - Posted - 10/15/2012:  13:09:03

I have a 20's Roger's head on a banjorine and it is not as lively as I think it has the poential to be. It seems a little too thick besides being nearly 100 years old.

Do old heads go dead? (All right smart a_ _ for you - that's HIDE heads, NOT people heads!) Smile, Banjered

cbcarlisle - Posted - 10/15/2012:  15:50:29

Some people Brag about being dead heads - skin heads, too.

What's the value of an old typewriter ribbon?

tunemakers - Posted - 10/17/2012:  09:53:59

I just happen to own an old 11 15/16 sized Vega that has never had a skin head on it and yours would be worth at least the cost of shipping if you wanted to ship it out to me........I'm not a skin-head kind of guy, I live in the, very humid in the summer and dry as toast in the winter, northeast and the little experience I had with skin heads in my youth has done little to encourage me to try them again....but if you were going to throw it out.....Throw it in my direction

jbalch - Posted - 10/17/2012:  10:50:29

When it comes to skin heads, I think Rogers was the pinnacle. Their hides were carefully selected calf.  They were sun-bleached and precision scraped by-hand.  The top-grade Rogers heads were the Best available in their time and are un-matched now.  There is interesting information about the company in this book (preview from Amazon.com :  amazon.com/The-Rogers-Book-Rob...888408049)

Personally, I think that a high-grade Rogers head would have greatest value to a collector wanting to set-up a vintage banjo to original specs. I personally would avoid using one on an every-day player banjo.   As a player, I'd rather have a new head - even though most hides available today are not the same caliber (although some are very good).

It would be worth a good bit more if your head was 11".  That opens it to collectors of Pre-War Gibson and Bacon banjos.  In GREAT condition an 11" high-grade Rogers head might be worth $70-100 or more (guess). 

However, it being a Vega 11 15/16 size - limits the marketability.  I think $40-60 would be max....

wbelm - Posted - 10/17/2012:  11:30:45

Thanks for the info John. You are inspiring me to consider the best head for each of my banjos.

Old Cremona - Posted - 10/18/2012:  19:36:26

We still never determined if old banjo heads go dead, tone-wise.

jbalch - Posted - 10/19/2012:  18:23:03

quote:

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Originally posted by Old Cremona

We still never determined if old banjo heads go dead, tone-wise.

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 Don't know about that.  I once had an 1880s H.C. Dobson with a head that looked as old as the banjo.  I though it looked amazing and sounded fine.  I played it that was as long as it was mine.

A good hide can last a long time....