18 Comments |
 | David McLaughlin says:
12/4/2011 5:35:17 AM
Nice looking antique banjo, though being super cleaned, polished, and shiny takes away any interest I might have had. It says "restored", but not exactly what restoration was done, which is critical info for investing in any antique. I do love those early (pre-Silver Bell) H C Dobsons.
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 | jbalch says:
12/4/2011 7:24:26 AM
David: I like to see them in original condition too. But isn't the wood nice.
That is one thing that impressed me about the later Dobson I had. Mine was not fancy. but the wood was all very well-chosen. He really made high-grade banjos - regardless of the level of decoration.
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| David McLaughlin says:
12/4/2011 7:44:14 AM
Yes, it is certainly has wonderful wood.
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| David McLaughlin says:
12/4/2011 7:47:01 AM
Right. Many of his simplest banjos had strikingly beautiful wood or wood veneer.
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 | drjack says:
12/8/2011 2:23:44 PM
I have no problem with banjos being restored to their former glory by people like Jason Burns or Bob Smakula. I don't think I'd buy one that could not be restored. What enjoyment is there in an unrestored unplayable banjo?
J
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| jbalch says:
12/8/2011 4:29:20 PM
I'm not talking about un-playable...or not clean. But with my old Dobson, I wanted original or period parts and some of the old patina to remain ...especially on the metal. I liked the look of it that way.
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| jbalch says:
12/8/2011 4:31:27 PM
I linked photos of the rim on the Dobson I had. That is the way it looked as long as I owned it.
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| David McLaughlin says:
12/10/2011 10:08:37 PM
Let me explain my comment above. I don't mind a restored-to-be-playable instrument. I own and love several. But the seller is asking a price that would be right for a playable, unrestored, virgin example. If a 1936 D-18 has a replaced fingerboard, peghead veneer, and is made all shiny, you can expect to get about 30% less than an untouched dirty example. I love all old Dobsons... restored, polished, altered, customized, hot-rodded, but most of all left original. I have more desire for virgin original, unpolished examples. That's all. I don't reject restored examples, except at that price.
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bartbanjo says:
12/11/2011 4:04:48 AM
How rare, or common are Dobson's from the1860's & 70's like the one on ebay?
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| drjack says:
12/11/2011 7:50:11 AM
Few if any banjos from that era are found in "original" condition, i.e. as when they left the factory so to my mind restoring is returning them to as close to that condition as possible while still maintaining original esthetics. No geared tuners inappropriate tailpieces etc. I think the one on eBay is reasonably priced for what it is. I just don't like 6 strings.
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| drjack says:
12/11/2011 7:53:17 AM
comments.......
12fret.com/content/2011/09/14/...signment/
As well Retrofret has a HCD similar to the eBay Dobson.
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| jbalch says:
12/11/2011 12:48:50 PM
bartbanjo: I'm not sure ... but the early examples with resonator -like the one on ebaY - have to be more rare. From a historical perspective, I think they are very interesting. But I don't know about them as playable instruments.
I think the later versions with the patented tone ring are more common and more often sought by players.
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| David McLaughlin says:
12/12/2011 12:20:41 PM
Well put, Jack. I agree with you on all points, except the value on that eBay pre 1880s example. But if it sells at $1,200, I will get back on here and say I was wrong. And for the record, the early HC Dobsons are indeed playable and wonderful instruments. There are a few out there and they pop up every now and then. I may have seen about ten (+ or -) examples similar to the one on eBay.
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| David McLaughlin says:
12/12/2011 12:46:54 PM
From my experience, the Silver Bells are indeed more common...and are now certainly more desirable than the earlier HC Dobsons. It seems like he had the most commercial success with the development of his Great Patent Silver Bell. The tone rings could also be ordered as a standalone after-market accessory for other banjos and drums.
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| drjack says:
12/12/2011 1:47:39 PM
"Ring The Banjar" page 20.
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| David McLaughlin says:
12/13/2011 5:44:01 PM
I saw that lovely old Dobson on Retrofret. I really like its patina, but I would be shocked and amazed if it brings what they are asking (or even a thousand less), but there may be someone out there looking for such a thing at that price. I am proven wrong all the time. The Retrofret example is of the simplest variety, not that it should matter. But many of those early examples are quite a bit more fancy. In searching the internet last night, I found photos of six pre-Silver Bell H. C. Dobson banjos...some from books, of course. My favorite is the brass-clad example of the two on Bill Destler's website.
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bartbanjo says:
12/15/2011 5:30:41 PM
Although early examples such as the Retrofret Dobson may not be in demand by players, I would think that the relative rarity , the fact that it is the work of an individual craftsman relative to the later more plentiful factory made models, and its importance as an unmolested example from an early banjo innovator like H.C. would make it worth quite a bit more than a Silver Bell. Then again as a complete newbee to the world of banjos, what do I know?
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| drjack says:
12/17/2011 8:51:20 AM
I think most collectors are players and playability is a significant factor
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