WS15-13

Fairbanks                     Baby Electric                      5 String “ Pony Size”

 

S/N- 15395        1896          9 x 21"                                        3 3/8 lb.

 

Fully original.

 

Condition: Near mint.

 

Background: During the 1880s, with the advent of classic style playing, banjo quartets and orchestras became very popular using various size 5 string instruments for different parts. The next-to-the-smallest size had a 9" rim with neck to scale and was called “pony size” by some makers.

 

Features of this model: Fairbanks may have advertised these as “Baby Electrics” since catalog cuts show those words stamped on the dowel sick. However, on the instruments this has not been seen and the dowel sticks were stamped with only “Electric”. Survivors are very rare. Earlier examples had boat hull shaped heels while this later one has a flat heel. Peghead overlays were either plain or inlaid with a star. The fingerboard inlays were quite plain.

 

About this instrument:

1) Ex-Bollman Collection and as such it was pictured in his section of the first Tsumura book (Page 112, near the lower left corner).

2) The finest known example of a very rare model.

3) Plain celluloid tuners and tailpiece.

 

Click to enlarge: