Help: Bacon banjo question

Subject: Bacon banjo question
From: GUEST,Sue B.
Date: 09 Nov 00 - 01:01 PM

I've inherited my father in law's 4-string tenor banjo - an old one! Manufactured by Bacon ca. 1920. Rosewood neck, mahogany body, mother of pearl inlays on neck, carvings on neck and head. It's beautiful! I'm wondering about how to go about determining its value - can anyone

Subject: RE: Help: Bacon banjo question
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 09 Nov 00 - 01:51 PM

Ask this question on Banjo-L. Go to idt.net/~zepp29/bnjolist.htm to subscribe (temporarily).

Subject: RE: Help: Bacon banjo question
From: Max Tone
Date: 09 Nov 00 - 07:13 PM

Hi Sue,
Also try this message board that I've just searched out
Four String Banjo Message Board
Rob

Subject: RE: Help: Bacon banjo question
From: Gypsy
Date: 09 Nov 00 - 11:32 PM

Will ask our banjo player, who is also a collector. You might also want to check out Bernunnzios

Subject: RE: Help: Bacon banjo question
From: DonMeixner
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 12:15 AM

From your Dad? The value is infinate.

Don

Subject: RE: Help: Bacon banjo question
From: GUEST,Mike Cahill
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 03:54 PM

Subject: RE: Help: Bacon banjo question
From: GUEST,mike cahill
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 03:58 PM

where I come from a bacon banjo is two slices of bread with fried bacon inbetween them, i.e. a bacon butty

Subject: RE: Help: Bacon banjo question
From: mousethief
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 04:22 PM

How come the word "sandwich" comes from England, but in England they don't say "sandwich" they say "butty"?

Just wondering,
Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: Help: Bacon banjo question
From:
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 04:23 PM

Hi Sue, I have one built in 1927 that I pruchased from a collector. No mother of pearl inlay but plays wonderfully. I paid 250.00. to me it is priceless and a joy to play. same construction as your w/out the inlay. enjoy!!

Subject: RE: Help: Bacon banjo question
From: Gypsy
Date: 14 Nov 00 - 12:15 AM

Hi there...talked to our resident banjo fanatic, who knows all. He asked that you find the model number and serial number, so he can give you an intelligent answer. You should find them either on: The peghead, or inside the resonator on the dowels. Let me know, and I'll pick his brain.

Subject: RE: Help: Bacon banjo question
From: Jon W.
Date: 14 Nov 00 - 10:11 AM

You could go to eBay and see what similar banjos are selling for - search completed auctions as well as tracking the current ones.

Subject: RE: Help: Bacon banjo question
From: Songster Bob
Date: 14 Nov 00 - 11:35 AM

I have my uncle's Bacon & Day silver Belle tenor with a new five-string neck. In fact, we've lost the original and sadly deteriorated tenor neck, so the collector's value is far gone. I won't part with mine, 'cause it's family.

Now, the value to collectors depends on model, age, and condition. If it's in better-than-good condition, with the rosewood neck and inlay it's likely a better model, and you have an idea of the age. But the suggestion to find the serial number is a good one. You should find the number on both the rim and the neck, usually -- if they don't match, it's a cobbled-together instrument or replacement neck. Remove the resonator and look for it.

A good model is the Silver Belle, which came in different degrees, sort of like the Vega Whyte Laydies or Tube-a-phones, which came in "No. 5" or "No. 9" or such (and they didn't seem to have a whole range, just a 3 and a 7 or a 5 and a 9, with nothing in-between). So if the banjo is a Silver Belle and is one of the high-end models of that, it'll be worth more than if it's a basic one, and both will be worth more than the bottom-line non-Silver-Belle models.

Good luck with your search. The suggestion of checking Ebay is sound, but for collectors instruments, auction prices are actually less than the dedicated collector pays. For certain instruments, like Gibson Les Paul guitars, this is not true, but for most, it is true -- Ebay prices are still a modest bargain in collectors instruments. I'd add 20% for this factor if you use Ebay as a guide. Others may not agree, but that's what i'd do.

Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: Help: Bacon banjo question
From: Gypsy
Date: 14 Nov 00 - 10:00 PM

Sue? Ya got those numbers for me yet? I'll get this to the top again, in hopes that you check. You know, if you join, then you can recieve PM's very handy.

Subject: RE: Help: Bacon banjo question
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 14 Nov 00 - 11:07 PM

Is this a Bacon or Bacon and Day ??I own an old "Bacon" made in 1906 in HArtford CT before Mr Day came on the horizon.. Good luck in finding a value.. Just remember to forget the $$ and keep it.. All the best , GUy

Subject: RE: Help: Bacon banjo question
From: GUEST,Sue B.
Date: 15 Nov 00 - 03:38 PM

Gypsy: Thank you for your suggestions. The banjo is being cleaned, getting a new drum and some new strings. The man doing the work is going to get the information you mention while he has the instrument apart (It's been sitting in various basements for decades, and though the case smells a little musty, the banjo itself seems none the worse for having not seen the light of day all those years). The fellow cleaning it advised me to hold on to it; he thought it was a collector's item, though until he had the serial number, etc., he couldn't put a value on it. Of course, as a gift from my father-in-law, it will stay in the family; I'm not thinking of selling it. Right now I'm planning to learn it. Sorry for the delay getting back to you; I'm correcting essays and getting ready to write grade reports ... . All else stops until they are finished. Thanks again, Sue

Subject: RE: Help: Bacon banjo question
From: Gypsy
Date: 24 Nov 00 - 09:37 PM

Better late than never! Haven't checked on you lately. Let me know the numbers, huh? Resident banjo expert is intriged, and would give you good info

Subject: RE: Help: Bacon banjo question
From: Jimmy C
Date: 24 Nov 00 - 10:17 PM

Sue B. I have an 1895(approx) Bacon Blue Ribbon # 7777, made by Vega before Bacon started their own manufacturing, They also made a " Silver Belle Model" It's hard to determine the monetory value without seeing the condition. Mandolin Brothers had a few of them on sale last year for approx $ 500 to $650. U,S. Dollars.

If it was your father's then it's priceless so just hold on to it.

Elderly Instruments may also be a good site to check out.