WS16-9
Fairbanks (by Vega) Style C 5
String
S/N: 27158 1911 10 3/4 x 26" 5 3/8 lb.
Fully original
Condition: Near mint.
Background: From the 1904 buyout on,
Vega continued lines that had been offered by Fairbanks and added a few new
models before their 1909 Tubaphone models. One of the more intriguing was the
Style C which was both pictured and described in the circa 1912 catalog. At a
glance it resembles a “ Regent with a carved heel” (i. e. a carved maple neck
with a perforated rim). In addition, it can be difficult to recognize this model
since the dowel stick is not actually stamped with the model name. Adding to the
confusion, the catalog cut shows only a star inlaid in the peghead and no such
example has been reported. Only one other Style C is known to have survived and
it suffered a truly sad fate. Many years ago its owner put the Style C neck on a
Whyte-Laydie No. 2 pot, sold the pot, and reportedly does not recall to whom.
Collectors can only hope that one day the neck and pot will be reunited.
About this instrument (the only known intact survivor): Maple wooden pot and
neck of 3 piece construction. The heel has a lovely floral carving, which I
assume appears only on this model. Peghead cap is ebony and inlaid with a star,
griffin, and trefoil. The board has a matching trefoil in fret 1, a star in fret
5, and dot position markers with simple tree engravings. Tuners are metal
patents with celluloid knobs. The tone ring is a solid brass vertical rectangle,
which produces a lovely sound. The lower outer rim is bound with celluloid
imitation tortoise shell. Tension hoop is notched and hooks are round with long
ball end nuts. The dowel stick has a short decorative metal stick cover. The
heel cap is dyed wood.
Click to enlarge:
