Greetings,
I was hoping to get some help identifying the case that came with the 1922 Vega Tu-Ba-Phone Tenor Banjo that I picked up this past weekend. I was able to clean it up and glue the case fabric back into place. The handle is missing so I ordered an aftermarket replacement, which I should get next week. After a lot of cleaning and airing out in the sun, it seems pretty functional. I was just wondering if this was the original case and who made it.
Best,
Rick
There was (is?) an internet site dealing with vintage cases. The diamond on the case pocket lid is a distinctive brand feature. Doing some serious research you'll find it.
Bob Smakula
As with the internet, yes, Bob is correct.
There is a direct site that is devoted exclusively to vintage instrument cases.
There is also a Facebook page devoted to the same.
I don’t have the links at the moment, but 5 minutes with a decent search engine, and you should find them.
....wait a second....here is the Facebook page
https://m.facebook.com/groups/vintagemusicalinstrumentcases/
and found the other one:
Edited by - Alvin Conder on 10/01/2024 17:44:18
Thanks Bob and Alvin, looks like that website got hacked and is being rebuilt. I don’t do FB so I can’t access that information.
But from what I have found, it’s very possible it was made in the 1920’s.
-Rick
I get an Epiphone vibe from this but not sure about the red interior. I don't keep notes on this type of stuff so just going from my feeling. I'll try to look back through some pictures.
I've seen that WEBSITE (not FB page) that discusses old cases in terrific detail. I too remember the diamond figure in the string box cover (there was also a double diamond).
Is there a faint impression of a bull's head and horns in the center of the underside? That would be a Bull Head brand. I had a 5 string version of one of those old cases, perhaps from a Paramount banjo. I had to make a rubbing of it (like on a gravestone carving) to be able to see the bulls head and letters.
In any case, use Google to find that website discussing old banjo and guitar cases. There were a LOT of brands back before WWII. Almost none have survived to today.
I went to the website posted by Alvin. There is a note on the website that says they are in the process of rebuilding the website after being hacked. So currently there is no case information. I'll check back in a week or two to see if they added any data.
I didn't see any other marking on my case and I looked with a magnifying glass.
After doing some searches, I did see another case with the same diamond pattern on the string box, but it didn't have any information about the case itself.
Best,
Rick
I believe many of the threads on the FB page mention the single & double diamonds on the accessory compartment were an indication the case was made by GEIB.
Edited by - tdennis on 10/03/2024 10:12:41
It's a Geib.
Unfortunately, I cannot find any info showing that Geib & Schaffer existed before 1934 — they may have but all of my sources on this are no longer online.
In any case (pardon the pun), I have never seen a 1920s Vega in a Geib case and I own a few '20s Vegas in original cases.
stevekirtley.org/geib/
Thank Alvin C for an excellent historical link.
quote:
Originally posted by tdennisstevekirtley.org/geib/
Thank Alvin C for an excellent historical link.
Nice! None of my other links to this site worked. Bookmarked again.
quote:
Originally posted by mikehalloranIt's a Geib.
Unfortunately, I cannot find any info showing that Geib & Schaffer existed before 1934 — they may have but all of my sources on this are no longer online.
In any case (pardon the pun), I have never seen a 1920s Vega in a Geib case and I own a few '20s Vegas in original cases.
Thanks, Mike. Good to know it's a Geib. My Vega Style M does fit really well, but I guess that doesn't mean it's the original cases.
By the way, we are neighbors, I'm in Livermore.
Thanks to everyone for contributing!
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