Long time lurker here on the board. Really appreciate this community.
So I tried to identify it, but it's beyond my skill. Looks like a Buckbee style peghead, but, other than that I'm lost. No stamps or lettering. 50+ brackets...so I guess it's a low end banjo. If I can get it for a good price, I thought it might be a nice project.
Hope the two pictures uploaded.
Edited by - nonconfermist on 02/10/2025 15:47:46
Now that’s a lot of hardware !
LOL IKR!
I don't think 50 brackets means it's a low end,,,in fact at one time I'm pretty sure the thinking was the more brackets the better the banjo.
Personally, I would go further on down the page and try to get the Stewart Macdonald banjo thats listed.
quote:
Originally posted by gbisignaniI don't think 50 brackets means it's a low end,,,in fact at one time I'm pretty sure the thinking was the more brackets the better the banjo.
yes there was a period of banjo making where because people believed the brackets helped some shysters put as many brackets on the banjo as it could possibly hold to make people think this helped the sounds of the banjo. However, it does not, and makes the banjo heavy and very difficult to deal with and practically a threat to your clothing,
A sucker is born every day!
I am not so certain that people generally believed that the number of brackets meant higher quality. But this was absolutely a marketing gimmick used by jobbers during the fad years and aligns with the industrial revolution aesthetic of mechanical stuff.
Cleary, this bracket count trick would influence the tyro, but high quality and professional level banjos did not use this, only the cheaper jobber makes. S. S. Stewart was often sarcastic about the "50 bracket" banjo.
Banjoists of any skill, or those who had put forth effort to study the instrument, would likely not have fallen for the bracket trick. More than likely the victims of this were the same people who buy $30 Ukes, $100 guitars, or bicycles from Walmart-- well intended who "want to learn" but will never actually put in any effort.
Regarding Buckbee, we need to stop with this "every unmarked banjo was made by Buckbee" thing. Period accounts observed that pretty much anyone with a workbench and some tools were cranking out the exact same banjos-- often sharing part sources. Sure, they might all look the same and have the same shape neck, but so do all the Gibson Mastertone copies made by made different shops today.
All average joiners of this era, who had apprenticed, would be able to make these banjos in their sleep using standard joiner tools and a bench. It was also common to buy partially finished banjos that joiners would assemble and do the finish work on.
Things that we make a big deal out of today like fitting necks were basic skills for these people using gouges and a brace and bit to drill the dowel hole. This would all be considered basic furniture joinery.
I view these banjos as a source for replacement hooks and shoes for more deserving banjos missing a part or two. One of these can supply a career's worth of parts for a restoration shop.
Appreciate the insights folks.
I think I mentioned the "buckbee style" peghead mostly because I didn't know what else to call it and it looked like some buckbee banjos I saw on the internet. Is there a name for that style peghead?
I learned a little more about Stew Mac banjos today too. Interesting.
