WS14-6
Fairbanks & Cole Custom “Early Style”
Un-designated Model 5 String
S/N- 1928 1882 11 3/8 x 27 “ 4 3/4 lb.
Fully original.
Condition: Excellent.
Background: Banjos I call the “early style”
have tall and very contoured pegheads, moderately big dimensions, and inlays of
geometric shapes arranged in patterns. On instruments with frets, the inlays
always seem to appear in frets 6, 8, 11, and 13. Most of them carry no model
designation. I have been unable to identify these banjos in either Fairbanks &
Cole catalog and they all seem to have been made in the first half of the
decade.
I consider this a custom instrument due to the profusely inlaid outside of the
rim, the carved heel, and the gold plating, which was mentioned as an option in
the catalogs. The cost for this upgrade was not clearly stated but seems to have
been about $25.00.
About this instrument:
1) Ex- Bollman Collection and
as such it was pictured in the Bollman section of the first Tsumura book ( page
108, 3 rd banjo on the lower row).
2) The metal parts on the
outside of the pot are gold plated.
3) The outside of the rim is
elaborately decorated with approximately 500 pieces of colorful pearl and 18
metal rings.
4) The heel is carved with a
“fish scale” design that also incorporates a scalloped extension just under the
fingerboard that reaches 4 ½ “ up the neck.
5) A fancy scalloped carving
also appears on the neck in the region of the 5 th peg.
6) Inlays are in frets 6, 8,
11, and 13.
7) Peghead and board inlays
feature serrated edges.
8) 34 Cobra (flat) hooks with
square, ball-end nuts.
9) Elaborate ivory tuners and
tailpiece.
10) The tension hoop has a
higher inner surface with a beaded edge and a lower outer surface that hides the
flesh hoop.
Click to enlarge:
