WS15-6
Fairbanks Special
5 String
S/N: 13974
1894 11 x 26" 3 3/4 lb.
Fully original.
Condition: Very good.
Background: After his split
with Cole, in addition to un-designated models and continuing some he made with
Cole, Fairbanks soon introduced 4 new models lacking the Electric tone ring..
Features of this model: The
Special was really “the ordinary”, i. e. his basic no frills commercial model.
Pots were full spun with plain, inexpensive hardware. The peghead overlay and
fingerboard were of cheap dyed wood and inlays were few and simple. Peghead
shapes tend to be simpler than on higher models. Eventually these were divided
into 6 grades ( numbered 0 thru 5) which actually displayed only
minor differences.
About this instrument:
1) The serial number falls in
the range of 10,000-14,000 from which very few banjos have surfaced; reasons
unknown.
2) On both the rim and the
dowel stick, after the S/N a figure like an inverted “v” is stamped. Bollman has seen this on no other
banjos and its meaning is unknown.
3) In addition to the S/N,
the dowel stick is also stamped “93" in large numerals. This has been seen
on only one other banjo and no similar 2 digit numbers have been seen. The
significance is not known.
4) The tuners are early metal
shafts with ivoroid knobs with very big bases.
Addendum: It is intriguing to
note that features 3) and 4) above also appear on my Senator (the next banjo
on this list). The “93" has never been seen by Jim Bollman on any other
banjos. We have wondered if it referred to 1893 but this banjo’s S/N is 13974
while the Senator’s is 3795. We also speculated it might refer to the presence
of the unusual metal tuners. When he owned the Senator, Bollman assumed the
tuners might not be original. However, seeing it together with this Special
makes it highly likely they both were issued with these tuners. One minor
difference should be noted. Although the metal shafts and the knob shapes are
identical, the color of the knobs differ. I feel sure the ivory colored ones on
the Special are celluloid and am not certain of the composition of the black
ones on the Senator.
Click to enlarge:
