dspainters - Posted - 12/25/2013:  09:16:03

i received this 4 string tenor from my mother it was her fathers  think it was bought in 1921 has a ser#  A6947 have two bacons now,might be looking for another one....man i love those bacons the sound is so wonderful. i am from new london connecticut this banjo was bought in new london by my grand father he worked on the new york  new haven & hartford railroad as an engineer my mom told me he took it every were he went and even played it on the train .it makes me wonder if he bought it from fred bacons new london studio....dave

Edited by - dspainters on 03/09/2014 06:35:06

1921 bacon blue ribbbon orchestra

Iaen - Posted - 12/25/2013:  09:34:36

Not sure if yours did but this does.  Yours looks like it is in better condition. Nice gift.  ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1922-Baco...661636230

 

dspainters - Posted - 12/25/2013:  09:47:40

thanks it plays real well never picked up a banjo until to 2 months ago .now I am hooked lol

Edited by - dspainters on 12/25/2013 09:49:54

Culloden - Posted - 12/25/2013:  14:32:54

Dave,

Your banjo may have had a resonator originally. That little bolt in the dowel stick is there for something. It is unlikely that someone would drill a hole through the dowel stick for no good reason.

The banjo in the link that Iaen provided has a flush fit resonator. You can see the ledge routed for it in the bottom of the rim inside. If yours had a resonator it was probably a different style. Most Bacon resonators were center mounted instead of being mounted with thumbscrews on the sides.

Most Bacon banjos I have ever seen(not all) had resonators of one design or another. The Bacon Peerless is one notable esception.

Polle Flaunoe is a bit of an authority on Bacon banjos. He might chip in on this topic. I am sure he can add more insight than I can.

dspainters - Posted - 12/25/2013:  14:53:32

thank you for the info any help is appreciated

NYCJazz - Posted - 12/25/2013:  17:23:34

I have a Blue Ribbon also. Yours looks to to be in nice shape. It is missing the snap-in resonator, and the correct tailpiece would be a Winship (Dr Winship was an investor in Bacon). The neck hardware is pretty common & easy to find. Someone had a set on ebay within the last couple of weeks for $40.

Here is a link to a thread about mine:

banjohangout.org/archive/257135

dspainters - Posted - 01/05/2014:  13:43:28

thanks, I like yours too nice project...

trapdoor2 - Posted - 01/05/2014:  14:59:02

Here's a link to my Blue Ribbon: banjohangout.org/myhangout/pho...umid=7733

dspainters - Posted - 01/05/2014:  15:42:31

I love it looks nice what year...

dspainters - Posted - 01/05/2014:  15:44:23

quote:

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Originally posted by dspainters

I love it looks nice what year... i finally found vintage bacon neck adjuster hardware...

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dspainters - Posted - 01/05/2014:  15:46:35

quote:

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Originally posted by dspainters

I love it looks nice what year...  i am looking for a resenater if you know any one thanks.. dave

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trapdoor2 - Posted - 01/06/2014:  13:45:30

quote:

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Originally posted by dspainters

I love it looks nice what year...

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'21 or '22. Before David Day joined the company.

Good luck finding a resonator. I've never seen one for sale...but have seen a good number of Blue Ribbon banjos without 'em!

dspainters - Posted - 01/08/2014:  15:17:52

thank you....

NYCJazz - Posted - 01/08/2014:  19:28:24

I do remember seeing one snap-in resonator for sale on eBay...

That was well before I actually needed one!

esmic - Posted - 01/09/2014:  09:20:20

Only one I've seen was ebay 2010.  I got lucky.

BR Snap In Resonator

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 01/09/2014:  12:17:42

quote:

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Originally posted by trapdoor2

quote:

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Originally posted by dspainters

I love it looks nice what year...

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'21 or '22. Before David Day joined the company.

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Marc,

Your beautiful BR is manufactured late summer 1922 - shortly before Day´s official arrival in Groton.

There´s however little doubt about Day "riding two horses" for some time (6-9 months ?) prior to this - you´ll maybe even be able finding his finger prints on your banjo - depending on how much it has been polished over the years - LOL!

Polle

trapdoor2 - Posted - 01/09/2014:  12:59:05

quote:

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Originally posted by Polle Flaunoe

quote:

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Originally posted by trapdoor2

quote:

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Originally posted by dspainters 

I love it looks nice what year...

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'21 or '22. Before David Day joined the company.

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Marc,

Your beautiful BR is manufactured late summer 1922 - shortly before Day´s official arrival in Groton.

There´s however little doubt about Day "riding two horses" for some time (6-9 months ?) prior to this - you´ll maybe even be able finding his finger prints on your banjo - depending on how much it has been polished over the years - LOL!

Polle

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Thanks Polle. While it obviously wasn't played much, I've polished it a time or two in the 10 yrs I've owned it. No forensic evidence left, I'm afraid!

Oddly enough, I played her as a "standard" TB (tuned CGDA) for a while and never thought anything about it. When I moved into Irish music, I put on a set of strings for GDAE tuning and this banjo simply woke up and took on a new life.

I had to get another tenor for CGDA. Yet another excuse to buy a vintage banjo! 

dspainters - Posted - 01/10/2014:  16:11:56

here are some new pictures....dave

Gordy Ohliger - Posted - 02/09/2014:  10:29:36

Hey TRAPDOOR2 ~

One NEVER needs an excuse to buy another vintage banjo!
At least amongst this crowd. We all applaud and support you.

I was going to get a cheap ol' banjo to use for flying to gigs... but every time I looked around, I would just gravitate to wanting the B&D neck and tone. So I did, I bought another B&D #3 (1923) Hell, so much for an airplane-travel-junker.

dspainters - Posted - 02/09/2014:  10:37:39

I like very much...dave

trapdoor2 - Posted - 02/09/2014:  12:52:46

quote:

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Originally posted by Gordy Ohliger

Hey TRAPDOOR2 ~



One NEVER needs an excuse to buy another vintage banjo!

At least amongst this crowd. We all applaud and support you.



I was going to get a cheap ol' banjo to use for flying to gigs... but every time I looked around, I would just gravitate to wanting the B&D neck and tone. So I did, I bought another B&D #3 (1923) Hell, so much for an airplane-travel-junker.

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Hey, hey, hey! Gordy, don't be an enabler! And please stop posting pix of beautiful B&D banjos...another banjo or two and I'll not make it to another wedding anniversary.

Miz Diane has put me on notice (again) that if I don't complete some of HER projects in the next few months...well, I shudder to contemplate what might happen.

I don't have a Silver Bell of any sort in my stable...I've played a few here and there over the years and simply have not run across one that had my name on it. I really like plectrums (simply because I'll never see a 5-string...but I've never even held a B&D SB plect. or a 5-string) but you never know what you might get until you pick it up and it says "take me home!"...

Edited by - trapdoor2 on 02/09/2014 12:54:30

Gordy Ohliger - Posted - 02/11/2014:  10:27:24

Har Har!
Years ago, after a serious illness, I decided; "What do I want; to have more $$ in the bank...or more banjos?!"
I see that some fellows want fishing boats, skis, vintage guitar amps that they never play, etc.
A fine instrument made by master luthiers...that's what I want. I've made my choice and am quite content.
AND they sing to me. We have fun.

dspainters - Posted - 02/11/2014:  15:13:09

YOU GOT THAT RIGHT, BUT SERIOUSLY IM HOOKED NOW.. LOL

NYCJazz - Posted - 02/11/2014:  18:54:16

Look for a Silver Bell plectrum. They're rarer, but worth it.

Good luck!

dspainters - Posted - 02/11/2014:  19:08:20

quote: harder to find or what

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Originally posted by NYCJazz

Look for a Silver Bell plectrum. They're rarer, but worth it.

Good luck!

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