Ladie's Model 5 String Banjo (unlabelled), c. 1890, probably New York City, natural finish, spunover rim, mahogany neck with ebonized fingerboard.
This lovely if unassuming little banjo has been around for at least 120 years, and is still ready to make more music today. It was most likely built in the Buckbee factory in New York, but carries no maker's or seller's markings. It accompanied a young lady named Lillian Brown to Wilson College in 1895, and she neatly notated this under the head (split but included, if desired) in cursive with blue ink. This style of smaller banjo with a 9" rim is often referred to as a "Ladie's"instrument, and many young women were schooled in the "advanced" banjo music of the time on dainty instruments like this.
Overall length is 31 1/8 in. (79.1 cm.), 9 in. (22.9 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 22 in. (559 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.). Well worn but intact and fully playable-heavy patina on the rim and hardware, lots of wear to the corners of the headstock but the neck itself is fairly clean. Hooks and nuts original except one is a period replacement and two are from the 1920's!The original Elite tailpiece is intact, the Champion-style tuning pegs appear original except for a new 5th string peg, the 5th string nut and the bridge bridge are new as well. Just set up with a new skin head; very nice and surprizingly loud sound- a lovely playadle antique. Overall Very Good + Condition.
↧