dansyerman - Posted - 03/18/2013:  13:21:04

hi folks,

im hoping i can get some help, i have a banjo i,d like to sell but id like to know how much it could be worth first,its a 6 string with a 12" hoop,it has "BUCHANAN IMPROVEMENTS" stamped on it.it has a guitar and a banjo engraved on what looks like a silver plate.and there is a harp engraved into the wood on the back.

any help would be greatly appreciated

thanks Dan

Edited by - dansyerman on 03/22/2013 13:00:54

Nels - Posted - 03/18/2013:  14:46:40

post pics...it would help..

skip sail - Posted - 03/22/2013:  13:56:45

I love it!

dansyerman - Posted - 03/22/2013:  14:30:47

can you tell me anything about it.? this is all i can find

A display advertisement in the April 1928 issue of "B.M.G." proclaimed:- BUCHANAN BANJOS Makers and repairers of all fretted instruments. 6 Granville St. West, GLASGOW, C.3. but nothing has been discovered about "Buchanan" banjos nor has any other advertisement about them been found.

From early 1927 to late 1940 a Miss Elizabeth Buchanan of the above address advertised herself as a teacher of the Banjo, Tenor-banjo, Mandolin, Guitar and Ukulele and, for a period, her advertisements included "instruments repaired on the premises".

Edited by - dansyerman on 03/22/2013 14:35:54

Joel Hooks - Posted - 03/22/2013:  16:30:09

Hi Dan,

I've got one of those that will go up on ebay soon and let the highest bidder win.  Mine is missing the triangle inlay below the nut.  This is the first time I've seen this inlay and I'm surprised that it is not more elaborate.

It is a shame that you cannot take better pictures of yours as mine has some pretty elaborate carving on the heel.  There is no sign of a resonator on mind.  I've seen two more of these (amazingly both had blurry photos that one could hardly make out what the banjo looked like).

They had the resonators carved like yours with the holes in the rim.  Mine has a solid rim with no holes.

Mine is also in pretty rough shape and would be sold as is.

These banjos seem to be victims of English banjo construction nuttiness.  As such they have faded away into the heaps of random turn of the century various-string UK banjos.

Joel Hooks - Posted - 03/22/2013:  16:31:32

I just looked at my photos full size and they are pretty lousy as well.  I'll try and get some more up tomorrow.

Stephen John Prior - Posted - 03/23/2013:  01:03:52

There seems very little information on Buchanan but they turn up quite frequently so i assume they must have been made in some quantity. The 5th fret string set up is quite quirky. Dan's has the original 6 string tailpiece. Both retain those lovely original nuts. The carving on Joel's is very nice. The slotted pegheads can sometimes have quite ornate carving. The pot i have has fancy engraving all around the outside. Plus a neck angle adjuster at the end of the dowel. There is one example pictured in 1001 banjos.

Stephen John Prior - Posted - 03/23/2013:  09:03:59

Dan. I'm guessing but i would think the value would be around the £300 mark.