I just picked this up (in London, UK) as it was both cheap and interesting-looking. The dowel seems to have the remains of a paper label that read "MANUFACTURED IN AMERICA". On the underside of the dowel there is a tiny two-digit number (93, 98, 85...too small for me to read atm). All the metal on and around the pot looks like brass. The strings look quite new and the frets are rather shrimpy. While the fretboard has many dings and mini-gouges I can't see any evidence that there were frets at the lower neck at any time. It seems to have been made fretless for those last 2 inches or so but not scooped out. Other than that, I can't tell you anything else that isn't in the photos. I did several image-searches (unusual banjo headstock, banjo headstock horns, etc, etc) but the only one I saw even vaguely like this was a Jeff Menzies gourd banjo.
Any input is appreciated and thank you in advance! :)
A lot of banjos of that era (late 19th c.) had only 17 frets. 2 octaves and a fifth is plenty of range for most players-- note that the fingerboard shows heavy use only on the first few fret positions. Some makers put more frets than that only on their "deluxe" or "professional" models.
Yours doesn't look like any particular US make I can think of, though any basic-grade mass-produced banjo of that age has a fair chance of having come out of the Buckbee factory.
The closest I've seen to that peghead shape is on a couple of Boucher banjos, made several decades before that one (with which I'm sure Jeff Menzies is familiar), and they weren't all that close. I'd be curious to see some closeups of the peghead-- It could have been cut to that shape long after the banjo was made.
Edited by - Dan Gellert on 12/13/2024 14:44:31
" I'd be curious to see some closeups of the peghead-- It could have been cut to that shape long after the banjo was made. "
Thanks Dan. I did have that thought too, but if so it's not obvious to my untrained eye. Let me know if you want more photos or different angles. Apologies for all the dust -- playing it has taken precedence over cleaning it. There seems to be a spot for some sort of identifying or decorative disk on the heel -- I'm not sure if that helps at all.
Edited by - Barnacle Joe on 12/13/2024 15:17:04
quote:
Originally posted by Barnacle JoeI just picked this up (in London, UK) as it was both cheap and interesting-looking. The dowel seems to have the remains of a paper label that read "MANUFACTURED IN AMERICA". On the underside of the dowel there is a tiny two-digit number (93, 98, 85...too small for me to read atm). All the metal on and around the pot looks like brass. The strings look quite new and the frets are rather shrimpy. While the fretboard has many dings and mini-gouges I can't see any evidence that there were frets at the lower neck at any time. It seems to have been made fretless for those last 2 inches or so but not scooped out. Other than that, I can't tell you anything else that isn't in the photos. I did several image-searches (unusual banjo headstock, banjo headstock horns, etc, etc) but the only one I saw even vaguely like this was a Jeff Menzies gourd banjo.
Any input is appreciated and thank you in advance! :)
Joe ..... congratulations for asking about identifying a banjo and actually sending photographs. You are a rare bird!
I had a Dobson stamped banjo with the same style "pebble" pattern rim. My knowledge regarding USA made banjos is limited but likely from the Buckbee factory ? I also have a similar rimmed banjo with a sort of woven pattern. I would imagine the peghead has been customised.
Regarding the missing frets, until the mid 1890s strings (which were gut or silk) were often “false” (uneven in thickness) and would not intonate correctly. This was more evident in the higher positions. My theory is that to avoid complaints from uninformed consumers blaming the fretting scale and not their cheap false strings, MFGs would simpler not fret the upper register. Problem solved.
Stewart only reintroduced the three octave raised fret neck in 1893 after processes for “trueing” strings (rectifying) were developed.
quote:
Originally posted by Barnacle Joe" I'd be curious to see some closeups of the peghead-- It could have been cut to that shape long after the banjo was made. "
Thanks Dan. I did have that thought too, but if so it's not obvious to my untrained eye.
I agree that it is not obvious. If anything, it looks just a bit too well done to match the rest of the workmanship!
The hole in the bottom of the heel likely held a medallion (often celluloid) with the "maker's" name. Pollman used them, as did others.
I put "maker" in quotation marks because the instrument pretty solidly looks like it was built by Buckbee, et. al.
The peghead is somewhat reminiscent, though not a direct match, for some I've seen in various British-built instruments... that, and the paper label, make me wonder if it was specifically built for export to the UK.
Thanks for all the input so far! I'm holding on to a tiny bit of hope someone will pop up with the secret knowledge, but if not I'm happy to have an unusual playable wall-hanger. I believe this is one of the Bouchers with same/similar headstock Dave mentioned. I had a few possibilities in mind (all-American, American pot + English neck, English pot & neck + American dowel, and so on). I also have a Pollmann banjola that was labelled specifically for export and resale at a specific London shop so perhaps Andy is onto something there.
It seems to have one oddball J-hook & nut, so I'll have to keep an eye out for a matching single.
Again, thanks everyone!
The " pebbled " pot is something I've seen on some Benary banjos but they usually had a metal nameplate covering the entire heelcap area and often were marked " Celebrated Benary " . I think the rim is of NYC manufacture but I can't really ascribe a maker to the neck. It might be British or homemade ( but well made ) if American. Maybe when dis-assembled there might be some clues whether or not the rim and neck are original to each other. The modified " rabbit ear " peghead shape would not be consistent with NY factory banjos of the period. The peghead looks unmolested but maybe close inspection might suggest someone cutting it down to a new shape. Just some idle thoughts.
quote:
Originally posted by Jim BollmanThe " pebbled " pot is something I've seen on some Benary banjos but they usually had a metal nameplate covering the entire heelcap area and often were marked " Celebrated Benary " .
That's exactly where my mind went to. I'm not sure, but when I see those pots, they've almost always been Benary.
I see the OP rim has 20 brackets. My Silver Bell had 24. I have another pebble pattern rim here with 38.
I also recall seeing another banjo on the BHO, same style heel as the OP with an inlaid medallion that read "New York Standard".
