- Vintage Kay Banjo Identification
- Buckbee Banjo
- Vintage Banjo Dealers
- Vintage Banjo Identification Guide
- Vintage Gibson Banjo Identification
In 1926 Gibson introduced the L-series guitars with the L-0 at $35 and the L-1 at $50 (1928 prices). The L-series is very difficult to properly identify and date as they were inconsistent in their appointments and the catalog descriptions do not always agree with the actual instruments produced. Welcome to The Vintage Banjo Maker: a comprehensive reference of antique banjo makers for your banjo addiction. Find out more about this archive on our about page and you can read about our latest additions and interesting facts right here on the blog. Index to Vintage Gibson Banjo Serial Number Information. Here you will find the Pre-War serial numbers divided into 3 groups, starting with serial number 8000 in 1925. Note: Date ranges listed here are approximate, as the batch numbers were many times used out of sequence. You can tell a lot by noting the actual ship-dates where they are. Its owner brought it in to see if it could be spruced-up for a family member who wanted to start playing banjo. As-is, its neck was warped beyond the ability of a fret level/dress to solve, the friction pegs on it were tired and worn-out, and it really needed a synthetic head mounted to keep it stable enough for a new player to learn on. VINTAGE 4 STRING BANJO BY LYON & HEALY A vintage Plectrum or standard banjo made by Lyon & Healy (1864-1940). 22 frets with a total neck length of 25 inches, inlaid mother of pearl scrollwork and scroll carving edged with ivory type material. Solid body resonator back in walnut with inlay ivorine star and the words 'Deluxe Vegaphone'.
Banjos
Latest Arrivals DB - 00809 ca. 1912 'The Dayton' 5 string Banjo EXC+ Here's another one from my personal collection that has been a 'keeper' for many years. In beautiful condition and with the unique metal head which gives it a distinctive deep sound. You can hear it in the video clip below. Laminated walnut and mahogany 5/8ths inch thick 11 3/4' rim with 28 brackets, one of which is missing. 26 1/2' scale length and an extended fingerboard giving it 26 frets. Attractive fretboard inlays and 'The Dayton' inlaid on the peghead . Straight mahogany neck with good frets. Fricton tuning pegs function well. (loosen the screw, tune it a bit sharp, tighten the screw and adjust to pitch). The label is in fine shape with serial #809. NoKnot tailpiece. Chipboard case.
Price: $2250.00
UK - 0003 1920's Fancy No Name Banjo Uke EXC + What a cutie this is. And it is in splendid condition. The fancy cutouts in the metal clad rim are exquisite and there is a bigmetal tone ring that gives it a big butmellow tone. The two tiny screw holes in the head stock and the oval shadow indicate that there was once an oval placque residing there as is typical of British instruments.The original tuning pegs have a screwadjustment that allows quick and slip proof tuning. Themahogany resonator has a large knurled screw for quick easy removal.Some fancy inlays on the fingerboard.Orginal bridge and tailpiece . Chipboard case .Rim = 7 1/2' Scale Length = 13 1/4' Nut Width = 1 1/4'.
Price: $1350.00
VB 00033 ca. 1931 Vega Vegavox IV Deluxe Tenor Banjo EXC ++ This is one of the very nicest, classiest banjos I have ever seen. And it rings out loud and clear and plays perfectly. It has been restored by Renee Karnes several years ago and has received basically no wear since then. Here is the original catalog picture and the catalog description. ( $425.00 in 1931 = $7,144.81 in 2019 dollars) Elegance abounds everywhere on this gold plated instrument from the engraved tailpiece to the engraved inlay on the back of the peghead. Also beautifully engraved are the fingerboard inlays and the intricate inlay on the headstock which is as beautiful viewed from the side as it is from the front. There is a comforting feel to the warmth of a gold plated banjo and I think it makes for a richer sound but that could be just psychological. The resonator sides are fancy, it's true, but the back is exquisite with its elegant 'De-Luxe Vegavox' star in the middle. Elegance is also evident in the long back strap extending down the back of the 5 piece laminated neck and the carving on the inlaid heel. Modern hard shell case.
Price: $5250.00
DBM - 0003 mid teens 'The Dayton' Banjo Mandolin' EXC ++ We have another gem here in museum quality that is not only rare but a great sounding instrument. Made by Charles Rauch in (guess where) Dayton, Ohio known for his high quality and innovative instruments. Unique horizontally laminated thick rim of maple and walnut with a metal tone ring. Pearl inlaid 'The Dayton' on the headstock with metal ferrules surrounding the posts of the original tuning pegs. Ebony pearl inlaid fingerboard is extended and elevated over the head. Nice original cloud taiplpiece cover over a replacement tailpiece (original is in the case with one broken tab). The metal label is present and excellent displaying serial number #1506. And the original hard shell case is in fine condition with corduroy interior and in the pocket an original 'D' Dayton tuning key, the original bridge, and tailpiece. 10' Rim 14' Scale Length 1 3/32' Nut width
Price: $1750.00
GB - 00035 1935 KelKroyden (by Gibson) Conversion VG++ Here's the real dealand you can hear it in the tone. You got your one piece flange full thickness rim same as a Mastertone without a tone ring. The flange is a Nashville Plating Co. replacement since the old one (included) was broken. And we had Larry Cohea install a Mc Peake flat head tone ring and a second co-ordinator rod (the KKrim is originally drilled for it but has only one installed) as well as anice Wreath Patternfive string neck and then set it up perfectly with spikes at frets 7,8,9, and10. It plays beautifully and sounds incredible. Gibson script on the headstock and Planettuning pegs and the fabulous M.O.T. resonator with original lugs. Original case and tenor neckwith original pegs, flange (and broken pieces), and brass rod 'tone ring' are available if you so desire.
Price: $5850.00
PB - 00404 1924Paramount Style C Plectrum Banjo EXC This is a fineexample with good strong sound and great playability. Good neck, frets,etc. and wonderful condition. Nice old skin head. The dove pattern fingerboard inlay is Paramounts most beautiful in my opinion. The Cupid or Ludwig Van Beethoven on the first fret is a pleasureable puzzlement. And the high grade mahogany used in the neck and the maple capped rim and the resonator are beautifully accented by the colorful marquetry usedthroughout. Original Pagetuning pegs in fine condition. Fancy headstock inlay. Carved heel. Lovely volute. (Don't ya justlove volutes?) Original tailpiece and .... it's wired for .... light. (Perhaps you noticed) The serial number on the rim matches that on the dowel. The label proudly states 'Piano Volume - Harp Quality Tone'.No lie. Original Paramount double pocket blue lined hard shell case in pretty niceshape.
Price: $1795.00 SOLD
VB 00032 1928 Vega Style N 5 StringConversion EXC - This is a wonderful player as well as abeautiful piece of art. The 10 15/16' head is graced with a lovely, whimsical art deco illustration of two frolickingnudes. It has the simple 'rolled over' tone ring. The bottom of the metal pot cladding sits in aledge that locates the cladding precisely on the pot. The rolled-over tone ring doesn't sit on wood,but is held a little less than a millimeter above the wood of the pot, so the simple tone ring doesn't touch wood. All thehardware is original and in good shape including the No Knot Tailpiece.There are a few nicks and scratches on the rim butnothing major. It has the original dowel stickand the serial numbers match on thedowel and the rim. (87793) The 26 1/2' scale length neck is mint and appears to be the work ofWyatt Fawley. Simple (and proper) star on the headstock and Planet style tuning pegs.Here's a video clip of it:
Nice newer hard shell 'bump' case. Price: $3350.00.00
EB - 0007 Mid teens CliffordEssex 5 String Banjo EXC With its 11 inch rim spunover what looks like mahogany and a simple hooptonering and nice skin head, this old feller gets a mighty sweet oldtimey sound. Scale Length is 26 3/4' and the nut width is 1 3/16' and themahogany neck shows wear on the back and is very comfortable to play.Ebony fingerboard has lovely abalone and pearl inlays in it as does the headstock. The tuning pegs work fine. All partsappear original and match nicely and the 15a Grafton Street label proudly graces the dowelstick. Oversize chipboard case.
Price: $1195.00
BU - 0004 ca. 1935 JohnGrey Banjo Uke EXC Very nice little banjo ukefrom the esteemed English maker John Grey. Birds eye maple back and blue striped maple sides. 10 1/4' head and 13 1/4' scale length.Maple rim and mahoganyneck and dowel. Resonator attaches with a single thumb knob. There is a dark grain line that definitelyis not a crack in the heelof which we have large pictures. The letters R B E are stamped intothe bottom of the heel. Friction tuning pegs with the number 13797 stamped into the back of the peghead. John Grey& Sons, London on the headstock. The piano shaped case is unique.
Price: $795.00
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All images and text on this web site are :
Copyright 1997-2021 by Players Vintage Instruments.
Welcome to
This website is dedicated to photos and descriptions of the many banjos in my collection, along with a few other vintage instruments I have picked up over the years. I have authored this site in the hope that other collectors might follow suit and share photos and information on their banjos with others in the collecting community. Since my interest in banjos stems in part from my interest in the technological development of the instrument over the years, my collection spans the period from the 1840’s to the 1920’s. As my collection evolves, banjos presented on the home page of this site may be removed and added to a 'banjos I previously owned' page. Banjos in my current collection are listed alphabetically by manufacturer or brand name. I have recently added a page on Fairbanks/Vega engraved inlay evolution for those interested in how this particular art form developed over the years and through the transition from Fairbanks to Vega ownership. For those interested in the genealogy of banjo manufacturers, I have included a page summarizing some important relationships between manufacturers, but much better information is available elsewhere (see, for example, America's Instrument, The Banjo in the Nineteenth Century, by Gura anad Bollman, University of North Carolina Press, 1999). For those interested in finding out more about buying vintage banjos and other vintage stringed instruments, I have included a page on that as well. I have also included a page on identifying unmarked banjos, for those who have an instrument of unknown origin. For those wondering where I put all of these instruments, I have added a page on living with vintage instruments. This should be particularly helpful to those collectors trying to convince dubious spouses that they don't already have too many banjos. Finally, I have added a page dealing with maintaining and restoring vintage banjos and other vintage stringed instruments. Also, click here for an example of how one can go too far to restore a banjo. For questions and comments, please contact me (Bill Destler) at bill.destler'at'rit.edu.(substitute @ for 'at').
Banjos
Bacon
Bacon 'Professional FF Special' 5-string banjo, Circa 1913
Boucher
Buchanan
Buckbee
Burkard
Cole
W. A. Cole “Eclipse” 5-string banjo model 5000, S/N 3600, Circa 1897
W. A. Cole “Eclipse” 5-string banjo, model 3000, S/N 3670, Circa 1897
W. A. Cole “Eclipse” 5-string banjo model 4000, S/N 3959, Circa 1897
Cubley
G. H. Daniels
C. E. Dobson
G. C. Dobson
H. C. Dobson
Eibel(click here for new information on Eibel banjos!)
Fairbanks & Cole
Fairbanks
A. C. Fairbanks “Senator No. 1” 5-string banjo, S/N 21028, Circa 1901
A.C. Fairbanks “Whyte Laydie” No. 7, 5-string banjo, S/N 22616, Circa 1903
Fairbanks (by Vega)
Farland
Farris
J. Farris “E&F Tenor Banjay”, Amateur Grade 2-1/2, Circa 1880’s
Gatcomb
Haynes
John C. Haynes 'Bay State' 5-string banjo, model 323, Circa 1890
John C. Haynes “Bay State” 5-string banjo model 354, Circa 1890
Lyon & Healy (including Washburn banjos)
'George Washburn' 5-string banjo, model 421 custom, Circa 1892
'George Washburn' 5-string banjo, model 442, S/N 328, Circa 1892
Magez
Morrison
Quinlan
Rettberg & Lange (including Orpheum banjos)
'Orpheum #3', 5 string banjo, S/N 9079, Circa 1915
'Orpheum #3 Special', 5-string banjo, S/N 13406, Circa 1919
Robinson
Vintage Kay Banjo Identification
Rudolph
J. B. Schall
J.B. Schall (Denzel) “Peerless” 5-string banjo Circa 1895
S. S. Stewart
S.S. Stewart “Thoroughbred” 5-string banjo, S/N 6096, Circa 1890
S.S. Stewart “Little Wonder” piccolo banjo, S/N 6265, Circa 1890
Stratton & Handley
Stetson
Talmadge
Teel
Teed
Thompson & Odell (including Luscomb banjos)
Todd
Turner
Weymann
Weymann 5-string banjo Circa 1900’s
Wilkes
Windsor
Unmarked, Minstrel, and Folk-Art Banjos
Other Vintage Instruments
Guitars
C. F. Martin guitar, 0-42, S/N 12929, Circa 1916
Buckbee Banjo
Mandolins
Miscellaneous
Vintage Banjo Dealers
Vintage Banjo Identification Guide
Lachenal English concertina, SN 43576, Circa 1890