banjotrader - Posted - 04/20/2015:  10:46:30

After doing a fair amount of research with the help of Keith Wilson and many contributions from Paragon owners, here is what I've found out and therefore can summarize.

The Paragon was introduced in Jun/Jul 1924.  This puts a major wrinkle in the past theory that the "Co. / & Son" dates listed elsewhere online help date the instruments. i.e. 1900-1919 / 1919-1936 respectively.  

This falls apart in the fact that many tagged "Co." are Paragon banjos.  It's possible that post-1919 (while actually being Clifford Essex & Son), old tags were used.



Some Timelines:

Jun/Jul 1924: Paragon Introduced

Aug 1927: First Plectrum appears

Oct 1927: First "The Paragon" tags on the perch pole appear

Nov 1933: the "New Paragon" is introduced

Feb 1936: Co & Son LTD Launched

Sep 1937: Now at 90 Shaftesbury St

Dec 1939: Paravox introduced

This should provide a more educated guess at dating your Paragons.



Paragon specific Serialization:

Jun/Jul 1924 -> Early 1927: 1-300 (This applies to all Tenor, 5String & Plectrum banjos).  These are sequential, All stamped "PARAGON" on the perch pole.



(5String & Plectrums):

Early 1927 -> Late 1927: 1300-1499

1928-1933: 1500-1599



(Tenors):

Early 1927 -> Late 1927: 1100-1210

1928-1933: 1211-1299



1934-1936: 1600-1660 (New Paragon is introduced here)

1937+: 1661+ (Moves to 90 Shaftesbury St)



Links to Clifford Essex Paragons being played:

Mario De Pietro - youtube.com/watch?v=DC--6n-OnIg

John Carty - youtube.com/watch?v=2tQPz-SoqXw      youtube.com/watch?v=yC3AwVWzd8I             youtube.com/watch?v=qzuamiiukJw

Gerry O'Connor - youtube.com/watch?v=aHRfff93zok           youtube.com/watch?v=QYPMRl2MymU              

Adrian McAuliffe - youtube.com/watch?v=SK6laTgSkkc             youtube.com/watch?v=0DLyuzBB3fA

Stevie Dunne - youtube.com/watch?v=FvlG9GLpcPQ -

 

Edited by - banjotrader on 03/09/2016 07:08:27

CEParagon124 - Posted - 04/20/2015:  18:43:18

Thanks. Cannot argue with your research, so I'll accept it as fact as we know it at present.

That puts my five string Paragon at a manufacture year of 1924, about 2/3 into the year.

Charlie Noyes

John Field - Posted - 04/21/2015:  01:59:06

Banjotrader.....that's an interesting Paragon dating list and I'm sure is the result of a lot of diligent research......well done! However, I think that trying to date Clifford Essex banjos from the nos. stamped on them is a bit of a minefield. I have a C.E. Special XX (this model was later designated the "Concert Grand"). My banjo has a rosewood neck and the "Clifford Essex Co. Grafton St" label and the number stamped on the rear of the peghead is 1463. From your Paragon list, 1463 would also have appeared on a 1928 Paragon. The Paragon chronology may well be correct......but if so, what do other (identical) numbers on other models of C.E. banjos mean? In earlier years, they might have had a different system.....perhaps they were not chronological serial nos. at all, but were factory order numbers, (like the Gibson system....), invoice nos. or indications of some sort of accounting system.
I suspect that assigning the term "serial number" to all types of CE banjo and assuming some sort of chronological significance to these numbers may be an oversimplification.

But I could be wrong........often am!

Bill Rogers - Posted - 04/21/2015:  02:04:58

I have a Special XX and a Concert Grand.  Neither has a serial #.  

banjotrader - Posted - 04/21/2015:  02:28:02

John, I very well could be wrong. Just working one angle here and assuming the SNs are sequential. This numbering seems, to your point, to be specific to the Paragon. Other models have their own series.

banjotrader - Posted - 04/21/2015:  05:20:20

Interestingly, this back & forth usage of "Essex Co." and "Essex & Son" might have more to it...  I have very low numbers stamped with the "Essex & Son" label, whereas much later ones with "Essex & Co".  My only explanation at this point is usage of old tags... Is that plausible???  Not sure to be honest...  A work in progress no doubt...

John Field - Posted - 04/21/2015:  06:13:32

Banjotrader....well, whatever the truth is about the CE numbering system, I sure appreciate your efforts to research this topic. About 20 years ago, I trawled through the archived bound volumes of "BMG" magazine (the house journal of the CE co.) which were housed in the National Newspaper Library in London, UK. I only had time to look at the issues from 1903 to around 1917, the idea being to see if a chronology could be determined for the introduction of the various models of banjo that were being manufactured. I also looked for any serial no. information, but the only references were in a very few classified ads. for secondhand instruments, where the vendor quoted the no. A pattern did emerge regarding the dates of appearance of certain models of banjo, but I could not find enough serial no. information to establish any theory as to what these numbers meant. A repeat exercise to view all the volumes of BMG up to, say 1945 might produce more information.

banjotrader - Posted - 04/21/2015:  06:31:06

Very good, I'll be meeting with a few collectors in the UK to discuss.  I had considered a Batch system, but even they produce odd ordering.  My theory for this was say 1433, 143 was the batch, 3 was the instrument number.  problem is, 1533 has the "& SON", 1433 doesnt...  

Some other examples:

252/1133/1261/etc.. have the "&SON"....  

1220/1458 have just the "&CO"...



Strange????

trapdoor2 - Posted - 04/21/2015:  06:49:15

Do the Paragons have batch numbers?

We've (over on the Classic-Banjo site) been discussing CE serialization for the Special's, XX and Concert Grands. They all appear to have what we're terming "batch numbers" applied to the backside of the dowelstick and also the tone-ring in the form of Roman Numerals. For example, my Special has the roman numeral "I" stamped into the dowel on the backside and then S/N 4330 in the normal place. Oddly, the numbers seem to run from I to IIIII, nobody's seen a V used (they simply stamped five "I"s).

While my CE Special is S/N 4330, it bears a "& Co." label, which would place it around 1919. However, another example I know of which has a S/N within just a few digits has an original sales receipt from CE dated 1934. We suspect it may have been built earlier but took a long time to sell!

banjotrader - Posted - 04/21/2015:  07:25:19

Interesting, i do know that other makes used numbering hidden all over the intrument.  Its my understanding that it was used to keep track of what-goes-with-what...  A very typical find on a Bacon Banjo for example...



I do really feel like the 1900-1919 / 1919-1936/ etc.. dating is sort of a blackhole...  its not holding up on the Paragon thats for sure...

marc.dalmasso - Posted - 04/21/2015:  11:20:07

Yes Marc, they do have  a batch number ; my 5th  ' Paragon , which came from the Amendt / Tsumura collection is  the n° 1426  with batch XI   engraved on the DS / pot / tonering / tension hoop .

reading this forum  ; we see that  member BDCA own the tenor n° 1433   and member  banjowilly22   own the plectrum n° 1427

It would be an info  if  these two members could give us  the batch number of the Banjos to see if there is something logic with mine

banjowilly22 - Posted - 04/21/2015:  13:15:46

There has been mentioned, by my old friend John Field, the numbers stamped on the reverse of the Peghead.

These were definitely NOT Serial numbers which were relevant to the Model on which they were stamped.

I have owned several Banjos by various other manufacturers, which have numbers which appear to be similar to

CE  serial numbers, stamped on the reverse of the Peghead. This isn't including the numbers which Gibson stamped on the reverse of there Pegheads, in the 1930's !!

It is my view that these were stamped after a restoration, or re-set up had taken place at The CE company, and then Re-sold by them. It could be considered more of a Stock reference number.

I have a great deal more information to include in this topic, which I must add is something that has needed doing for ages.

So good on you Peter !

CEParagon124 - Posted - 06/05/2015:  06:23:09

Is there a post missing here?

Topic jumped up the list, listing a post by BanjoTrader on 6/4, but nada....

Charlie Noyes

banjotrader - Posted - 06/05/2015:  06:34:29

Updated at the top (click here)