WS16-2

Fairbanks (by Vega)                             Imperial Electric No. 0                           5 String

 

S/N: 24489                  1908                                        10 3/4 x 26 “                            5 ½ lb.

 

Fully original except the 5^th tuner.

 

Condition: Near mint. The peghead ear at the 2^nd string tuner had been expertly re-attached.

 

Background: (This paragraph that refers to Senator and Senator No. 1 models seems out of place but will make sense when you read this paragraph and the following one.) The Senator model started very early in the Fairbanks era and apparently continued until the fire. Vega soon updated it and called it the Senator No. 1 in the 1904-08 catalog. Initially the inlays closely resembled those on lower grade Electrics. Eventually the peghead featured the Vega torch. For a brief period (apparently all during the 24,000 S/N s) they decorated these with a superbly shaped and engraved dogwood-like 5-petal flower on the peghead and interesting board inlays (refer to my example, S/N 24243, listed later in this group of banjos). Only about 6 have been seen and most are either in rough condition or have been refinished.

                

Electric models decorated like these Senator No. 1s and from the 24,000 serial number range are apparently quite rare. Jim Bollman can only recall seeing or hearing of 2 or 3 examples.
 

 

About this instrument:

1) One of the few Electrics seen with the dogwood-like flower inlay in the peghead. Along with the Senator No. 1s, all seem to have been made during the 24,000 serial number period.

2) The shape and engraving of the flower is much less skillful than that on my Senator No. 1 (S/N: 24243).

3) Unusual but attractive color combination that was occasionally used in this era. The mahogany neck is a moderately light brown and the rim is ebonized.

 

Click to enlarge: