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BrittDLD1 |
In the late-1920s, or early-1930s, classic banjoist Fred Bacon, won the "World Championship Contest of Old Time Banjo Players." Here's the trophy.... Of course, during THAT specific moment in time -- the "New Time" players were those young pups, with the slicked-down hair, playing 4-string Jazz banjo.... (See: http://www.banjohangout.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=123524&whichpage=2)<p> </p> [Image scan by E. Britt © 2008] Original: Collection of E. Kaufman
5 comments on “FJ Bacon- World Champion Old Time Banjo Player”
trapdoor2 Says:
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 @11:23:10 AM
Cool photo, Ed. Looks like it has the "soft pedal" mute on it too. Who owns that banjo now? Where is the trophy? ===Marc
BrittDLD1 Says:
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 @11:56:31 AM
Hi Marc -
Yes, that's the banjo he used in the contest -- one of their "$500 models", probably a Montana #7 from the looks of it. And it does have the soft pedal. (He was probably playing on braided silk strings, too. Looks much like braided trout line...)
Y'know the moment I posted that photo, it dawned on me -- that I've never heard where that trophy went. Fred remarried (his nurse) late in life -- and it probably went to her estate. I'll have to ask Eli Kaufman....
The official Corporate Seal for the Bacon Co. turned up a few months ago, on ebay. The seller (who I know...) wants $10K for it. It 's a special pair of pliers with matching round dies, about 2-inches in diameter. It was used for embossing official and legal papers.
writerrad Says:
Thursday, September 18, 2008 @6:12:55 AM
What did Eli say about all of this.
Does he or perhaps Bollman or Pzego have the trophy?
BrittDLD1 Says:
Thursday, September 18, 2008 @7:03:21 AM
Hi Tony -
Eli's the one who first mentioned the contest to me, probably 25 years ago. It's mentioned in his series of articles on Bacon, in the late-'70s ABF "5-Stringer". (Some of those great historical articles should be "re-published" on the ABF website.)
Don't know where the the trophy is. Haven't talked with Eli recently.
The Bacon Banjo Co. Corporate seal was up on ebay a few months ago. It's an important historical artifact, an really should go to the 4-String Banjo Museum -- for safekeeping...
Jim did NOT get it. Don't know who did.
Ho C Ying Says:
Friday, November 11, 2011 @12:58:47 AM
When I saw the small picture, I thought he was Steve Martin. Haha!
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