A co-worker of mine came into my office the other day and noticed the pictures I have decorating my shelf; Alan Munde, John Hartford, Earl etc... She said, "what's with all the banjos?" I told her that I play and we had a nice conversation about some bygone music. She then said, "well, you know, I have my dad's 75 year old banjo at my house". My mouth started to salivate! I tried to get some more information out of her, but she didn't know too much. She did tell me that it's pretty heavy, so that's exciting! It being 75 years old would put it at being made in the late 40's. She said that when the weather gets nicer she'll bring it into work for me to check out. Who knows if it'll actually amount to anything, but it's always fun to come across things like this. I want to pester her and get some pictures, but I don't want to be too much of a bother. She also said that her sister got her dad's guitar which is about the same age, but she isn't sure if her sister has it anymore or not. There are still untold numbers of nice banjos out there waiting to be discovered. Odds are it wont be anything exciting, but it's fun to dream! I'll be sure to keep y'all up to date with any information I find out.
This is what dreams are made of.
I`m with you all the way, I`m currently on tenterhooks hoping to hear from the owner (contact twice removed but photo`s provided ) of a Windsor banjo of a style I never knew existed in their range ! I`ts a top tension model that I`ve never heard of so I too wait with bated breath !
By the way, my motheres family are Burdetts :-)
Deke
When I worked in a repair shop I would always get calls about people wanting to bring their grandpa's old banjo in to be restored. I always got excited about the possibilities but the sad truth is that they were always cheap tenors and banjo ukes!
-TD
Not to worry. There is a new generation of far better equipped grandpas checking out all the time. Doing my best not to resemble that remark. banjered
"40's? Heck, that's me, I was made in the late '40's
pictures dont require good weather ;-)
