Can anyone educate me please, I`m looking at a Silver bell that seems a little "off" to me, but then I know very little of these banjos. Dowel stick says Model A ?, silver paint in the rim, no carved heel, serial number 25495. Any suggestions please.
We need detailed pix to help. Silver Bells varied. Model A 7 seems strange to me
Sorry Bill, that`s a question mark, not a 7. it`s on F/book here in Oz, a plectrum Silver Bell, just feels wrong, more of a Bacon than Bacon and Day perhaps, there was a style or model A in the Bacon Blue Ribbon range, perhaps a marriage with a B&D Silver Bell neck ?
Without clear and well lit, in focus, photos of all relevant parts and points you will get nothing but worthless speculation.
"worthless speculation"
That's my main reason for checking in with this site!!
Photos would really help, and is it stamped "Model A" or "Style A" ? Assuming it is "Style A" here are some facts :
B&D Silver Bells of this era were stamped "Style No. 1", "2", "3" etc. depending on grade.
B&D Super Banjos of this era were stamped "Style A". The Super banjo has the same tone ring as the Silver Bell and is very similar in most respects. The differences are :
1. The peghead overlay reads "B&D SUPER BANJO".
2. If it comes with a resonator, the flange should be parallel to the head, not sloped the way it is on the Silver Bell.
3. The resonator should have about a 1" lip.
4. The resonator should have a round, slot-head bolt in the middle to fasten it to the rim at the dowel stick.
The two models are so similar it is fairly easy to swap out parts and convert a Super to a Silver Bell, except for tell-tale dowel stamps and peghead overlay.
Thank you Shawn, that`s the type of info I was looking for, it does say "Style"A on the dowel and has a centre fastening on the resonator which appears more flat than sloping. Very little can be seen of the tone ring of course. Sorry I can`t supply pics, folks, don`t have the necessary skills. But it does seem like a mash-up.
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