Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 11/15/2013:  23:45:28

Ed,

Thanks a lot - your reply has cleared up many issues for me.

I´ve gone through my pics archive now (I should have done this in advance) - I can via this confirm many of your remarks. As do some of your remarks point out things, that I hadn´t noticed in advance.

F.ex. your remark regarding the inner edge of the half spun tone ring resting at the rim top on the early Blue Ribbon´s.

It seems, that only one very interesting issue could need some more consideration and if possible a clarification - were the raw rims for the late Blue Ribbon´s plus the early Super´s and Silver Bell´s in fact identical?  And if so - were the rims for the SB´s cut down a little in height - whereas the rims for the two other models were rounded at the bottom - for a rim cap?

Ed - will it be possible for you to measure the total rim height on your banjos as mentioned - inclusive of the tone ring and also the rim cap on the BR?

For comparison - I´ve just now measured the total height on a SB with a Type II inside perforated tone ring - 2.6" - and on some SB´s with a Type III (non-perforated with a floating inner lip) - 2.4".

Regards

Polle

Edited by - Polle Flaunoe on 11/15/2013 23:56:49

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 11/16/2013:  01:57:10

PS!

Out of curiosity I´ve this morning made some further measurements on various SB´s - these are indeed interesting.

It turns out, that the outside recess at the rim - for the vertical flange lip - is 12 mm ~ 0.47" high - on ALL models/versions pt. in my workshop/display/collection.

And what´s even more interesting - the vertical measure from the inside of the laminated resonator back to the top op the flange lip is 36 mm ~ 1.42" - also on ALL models/versions (Type II tone ring / 13" resonator / beveled flange - Type III tone ring / 13" resonator / beveled flange - Type III tone ring / 13½" resonator / stepped flange - Type III tone ring / one-of-a-kind 14" resonator / stepped flange).

Meaning - on ALL examples the gap between the rim bottom and the resonator inside is exactly the same - 24 mm ~ 0.95" - BUT - the total depth of the pot/resonator assembly for my 1925 SB with its Type II tone ring is - due to its larger rim height - 0.2" larger than for ALL examples with a Type III tone ring.

Oh - I would just now love to have an early SB example like yours - with its Type I tone ring - and either a solid or a laminated resonator back - in my hands - for similar measurements/comparisons.

Edited by - Polle Flaunoe on 11/16/2013 01:59:22

BrittDLD1 - Posted - 11/16/2013:  06:39:27

Hi Polle --

I think it's obvious to both of us -- that YOU know much more about the "advanced" mid-'20s to mid-30s Silver Bell models. MY interest (as a product designer) is the innovation and initial prototypes of the "early" models, as well as HOW they developed, and changed into the advanced models.

(You tend to look for the "prime" best-of-period Bacon examples. I tend look for the weird, odd, and strange "experimental" examples -- to try to understand the 'thought processes' used to invent, develop, and refine the Bacon banjos.)

I've got a few other things to do today... But I WILL measure the features, you asked about -- and try to post them by tomorrow. It's MUCH more fun when we recognize each other's 'interests' -- and trade useful information, in a collaborative way. We BOTH learn new things!

Best -- Ed Britt

Edited by - BrittDLD1 on 11/16/2013 06:41:11