WS17-1

Vega                            “ Regent Variant”                         5 String

 

S/N: 22944                  1904                            10 3/4 x 26"                             5 1/4 lb.

 

Originality and Condition: Lacking knowledge to the contrary, an experienced collector viewing this banjo for the first time might easily say something like, “Boy, that’s an interesting original old Vega but it surely was played long and hard at outdoor festivals”. My reason for discussing originality and condition simultaneously will become obvious. This banjo was reportedly found in a barrel under a leaking roof and looked the part. Thankfully, a dealer recognized it was unusual. The 3-piece neck had delaminated and although all the neck binding was present, it was 99 % detached. The dowel stick had fallen out and half of the heel cap was gone. All the metal parts were heavily corroded. The peghead inlays were present but almost exactly half of the board inlays were gone. Because the engravings were so well done and so unusual, I am not joking when I say I believe God put his “fingers” on what remained to save them for us to enjoy. For every missing inlay, we had a matching example to show how they should be engraved. Several fellow collectors were helpful in the mammoth restoration project but chief plaudits go to T. J. Thompson who managed to preserve its authentic appearance.

 

Background: Hopefully what follows will allow you to understand why such heroic efforts were put forth. First understand this instrument is not stamped “ Regent”. That model had started around 1897 with dark necks. With the start of the Whyte-Laydie line in 1901, necks of Regents were changed to maple finished naturally making them closely resemble Whyte-Laydie No. 2 models. These continued until the 1904 fire. I chose to call this a “Regent Variant” because it is basically a Regent pot with a maple neck but varies in 2 major ways. The peghead and board inlays are completely different and the dowel stick is a real enigma. In addition to what seems to clearly be a continuation of Fairbanks serial numbers on the rim and stick, the only other markings are the word “Vega” in large block letters within an oval and a comparable size, 2 digit number (Photo below). At this time only 5 such banjos are known and I am quite anxious to hear of any new discoveries. Two of them can be thought of as Regents and the other three as variants. Here are the S/N s, the 2 digit numbers, and the main peghead inlays:

22262…….18….. star

22868....... 17....... griffin

22943.….. 17....... star

22944....... 18....... star

24555....... 17.….. griffin

It is interesting to note that on 22262 and 22943, the star is less ornate than on 22944 and the board inlays are considerably more mundane. It seems almost certain that 4 of these were made very close to the time of the fire but a full explanation of the instruments and the 2 digit numbers is not currently possible. If one postulates that carrying the Vega name means they were made right after the buyout, then the lowest S/N(22262) should approximately equate to March 4, 1904, the date of the fire. Questions abound; if you see another, please take the time to record every detail you can think of to record. 

 

About this instrument:

1) Perhaps a one-of-a-kind banjo and fascinating.

2) The dowel stick is stamped as described above.

3) Enigmatic but almost surely made around the time of the fire.

4) Unusual and superbly done inlay pattern highlighted by stars on the peghead and 5^th fret that are engraved in a very artistic manner.

 

Click to enlarge: