Used 5-String Open-Back Banjos
Maker: Dobson, Geo. C.
Year: 1880
Notes:
Marquetry Fingerboard.
Early Style Brass Rim and Styling.
Maker: Dobson, Geo. C.
Year: 1890
Notes:
11" rim
25 1/2 " Scale
36 Brackets
Mostly Original.
A couple of pieces of pearl inlays on peghead are lifting.
Offered AS-IS
Maker: Dobson, Geo. C.
Year: 1890
Notes:
11" rim
25 1/5" Scale
36 Brackets
Mostly original.
Offered AS-IS
Maker: Fairbanks
Year: 1900
Notes:
An Original Fairbanks Electric Rim fitted to a fine reproduction 5-String neck by Steve Sutherland,
enhanced by traditional Fairbanks Engraved pearl Inlays.
Traditional Fairbanks Heel-Carving.
10 1/2" Rim
26" Scale Length
Maker: Fairbanks
Year: 1900
Notes:
An Original Fairbanks Electric 10 15/16" Rim
with Inverted Electric tone-Ring and
with fine reproduction 5-string neck by Steve Sutherland
enhanced by the traditional Fairbanks pearl inlays and heel-carving.
10 15/16" Rim
24 3/4" Scale Length.
Maker: Fairbanks
Year: 1899
Notes:
An original Fairbanks Electric No. 0
that has had some restoration and up-grading.
10 15/16" rim, 26" scale Length.
Original 5-string neck with new ebony fingerboard and peg-head facing
with added Fancy Fairbanks engraved pearl inlays.
In Addition, the heel of the neck has been carved with Fairbanks design.
Also ebony back-strapping has been applied to the back of the peghead and inlaid with M-O-P
in the traditional style.
Maker: Fairbanks
Year: 1902
Notes:
An Original Fairbanks 5-String Banjo
with a replaced ebony fingerboard and peg-head facing,
with added appropriate pearl inlays.
10" Rim.
26" Scale Length
Maker: Fairbanks & Cole
Year: 1888
Notes:
Early Fairbanks & Cole student model banjo.
No decoration, but straight and original.
Maker: Lange
Year: ca. 1920
Notes:
Reroduction 5-String Neck by IG.& B.
11 13/16" rim, Wooden Tone-Ring.
26" Scale.
Maker: Lyon & Healy
Year: 1896
Notes:
A Particularly Classy Mystic banjo
with refined color and styling.
Mahogany neck with Ebony fingerboard.
Excellent and Original.
Maker: Lyon & Healy
Year: Ca. 1895
Notes:
A striking Presentation Model from the Chicago-based Lyon & Healy Co.
12" Rim, Scale Length is 27".
Extensive pearl inlay and brass-wire designs. Detailed heel-carving in the Washburn style, extending way up the neck
and featuring either a fearsome Sea Monster or a very happy Spaniel Pup.
Some restoration done in the 1970's. Some replaced hardware. Neck straight, Action Low, Plays and sounds great,
looks terrific on the wall.
Maker: Orpheum
Year: Late 'Teens
Notes:
14" Rim with 26" Scale length.
New 5-String neck by I.G.& B.
Presently strung with heavy strings and tuned
a fifth low.
Maker: Pollmann
Year: 1888
Notes:
Pollmann banjo by Buckbee.
11 3/4" rim with 26" scale.
17 frets.
Everyone knows that the more brackets, the better the banjo.
This one has a whopping 40 brackets.
Calf-Skin Head, Nylon Strings.
Plays Great, Mostly original.
Maker: S.S. Stewart
Year: 1880's
Notes:
Large 13" Rim.
28" Scale Length.
Originally a fretless banjo, presumably sent back to the S.S.Stewart
factory maybe 130 years ago for fretting.
Closely inspect the fingerboard for clues.
Modern German-made planetary pegs.
Some repairs, like the kinda amateur wing repair on the peghead, 4th string
and some filler at end of fingerboard where it meets the rim.
Mostly original, quite playable, killer heel-carving.
More photos to come.
Offered AS-IS
Maker: S.S.Stewart
Year: late 1880's
Notes:
Largely Original.
Orchestra #1 with
12" Rim
28" Scale
Maker: S.S.Stewart
Year: 1890's
Notes:
1890's S.S.Stewart Banjo in extraordinary original condition.
11" rim
27" Scale Length
All Straight.
Striking Carved Heel.
Maker: Schmick Lyric
Year: ca. 1920
Notes:
All-Original 5-String.
Old Planets.
Straight Neck, Low Action.
10" Head, 27" Scale.
Made by the Vega Co.
Maker: Thompson & Odell
Year: ca. 1890
Notes:
A "Lady's Banjo" From one of the Great Banjo Companies in 1890's Boston, Mass.
10" Rim with 24" Scale.
Mostly Original.
Offered AS-IS with Highish Action.
Maker: Unknown
Year: 1890
Notes:
Hard to know who made this banjo.
There are stylistic elements here from Chicago, from Boston and from Philadelphia.
Mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, subtle heel-carving with acorn.
Engraved Pearl Inlays.
10 1/2" Rim
21 1/2" Scale Length
Maker: Unknown
Year: 1890
Notes:
A smaller antique banjo with both American and Anglo
influeneces.
Maybe Canadian.
[Now understood to be a Cubley banjo from Illinois]
Original and excellent.
Partly Fretless.
ON HOLD