WS15-21
Fairbanks Special Electric No. 5
5 String
S/N: 18320 1899 10 3/4 x27" 5 7/8 lb.
Fully original.
Condition: Mint.
Background: From the first
Electrics in 1890 until the introduction of the Whyte-Laydie line in 1901, the
No. 5 and No. 6 models shared top billing amongst Fairbanks banjos.
Features of this model: Many features are present on almost every No. 5 or No. 6. Mahogany necks of 1 piece construction that are thin and dainty and have a 27" scale. Ebony caps on the peghead and heel and a long ebony back strap with a pointed end. The peghead is inlaid with an elaborate torch and feathers design and an inverted twin of the first fret inlay. Back strap inlay is a griffin that is often skimpily engraved and the heel inlay is crest shaped. Under the fingerboard and all 3 caps are multiple decorative veneers one of which is red. Board inlays are plentiful, sizeable, and well engraved. Long decorative metal stick cover and long ball-end nuts.
Then
there are features that each come in one of two options and can occur in nearly
any combination which creates the theoretical possibility of a really large
number of different examples. These include:
1) Model number- 5 or 6.
2) Pot- full spun or half
spun.
3) If half spun, the exposed wood can be either ebonized or brown grained wood veneer. (All half spun pots have beautiful wood marquetry along the bottom edge)
4) Binding- ivory color and
narrow or stark white and wide.
5) Heel carving- design with
2 flowers or the one used on W. L. No. 7 models.
6) Tuners - carved ivory or
patent metal shafts with celluloid knobs.
About this instrument:
1)
Half spun pot with bottom of the rim adorned with a 15 layer combination of
wood marquetry and binding; exposed wood is brown grained veneer.
2) Very elaborate carved
ivory tuners and tailpiece.
3) Flat (Cobra) hooks and
square, 4 sided nuts.
4) Double flower heel
carving.
5) Binding is the stark white
and wide variety.
Click to enlarge:
