Bacon & Day Silver Bell #2 Tenor Banjo (1925)
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Bacon & Day Silver Bell #2 Model Tenor Banjo (1925), made in Groton CT, serial # 16495, shaded maple finish, laminated maple neck, rim and resonator; ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This tenor banjo is a 19-fret Silver Bell #2, the second step up the line of the Bacon Banjo Company's celebrated high-end professional B&D line. The upper-end Silver Bells were swathed in glitz, the fanciest and most expensive (at least for the period) banjos ever built. The #2 model was comparatively restrained, although fancier than the common the basic #1 professional model. Even without the out-and-out flash of the "Ne Plus Ultra" models this is still a very high quality instrument, retailing originally at $185.00. The Silver Bell banjos were quite popular in the 1920s and beyond, especially among vaudeville and variety players.
The dowel and rim bear matching serial numbers dating to 1925 with a #2 stamp on the dowel. The most distinctive feature of this line is the unique low-mounted Silver Bell flange, which has f-hole shaped cuts for sound holes. The resonator back is dark-finished flame maple, bound in black celluloid with inlaid concentric contrasting wood rings; this earlier example has no nameplate. The heavy Silver Bell tone ring is the later non-perforated style. The tailpiece is the original adjustable Oettinger in excellent condition and the long armrest is intact as well. The #2 has all silver plated hardware, a nice touch although a fairly subtler upgrade!
The multi-laminate maple neck has a floral pattern carved heel and multiple wood underlays beneath the ivoroid-bound ebony fingerboard which carries delicate shaped pearl inlay. The laminate headstock (both front and back) has elaborate floral pearl inlay around the "B&D Silver Bell" logo and a small decorative pearl piece on the back. The Silver Bell series are among the finest banjos ever built, and this #2 is a lovely example. This beautiful, charming and elegant professional tenor plays and sounds great a century along with another ahead of it.
Overall length is 33 1/2 in. (85.1 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 4 in. (10.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This banjo is just turning 100 years old and has survived a century very nicely. The finish appears all original with only very minor wear mostly small scrapes and dings to the back of the resonator. The silver still shines with some general plating wear, mostly to some of the hooks and the top edge of the armrest.
The parts are all original and correct except there is no mute fitted; it appears to have been removed ages ago as there are few marks of its presence. One of the threaded resonator mounting bolts is a nice repro but the other three are original. The original frets have some very light wear and the banjo plays very well, set up with a Deering renaissance style head and newer bridge. This is a fine sounding and playing Silverbell, with the powerful "snap" these are known for. It resides in a beautiful zipper-lined original HSC which is solid with some wear and a later handle and is ready for another century of playing, a period open-ended wrench and slipcover are included. Overall Excellent Condition.
This tenor banjo is a 19-fret Silver Bell #2, the second step up the line of the Bacon Banjo Company's celebrated high-end professional B&D line. The upper-end Silver Bells were swathed in glitz, the fanciest and most expensive (at least for the period) banjos ever built. The #2 model was comparatively restrained, although fancier than the common the basic #1 professional model. Even without the out-and-out flash of the "Ne Plus Ultra" models this is still a very high quality instrument, retailing originally at $185.00. The Silver Bell banjos were quite popular in the 1920s and beyond, especially among vaudeville and variety players.
The dowel and rim bear matching serial numbers dating to 1925 with a #2 stamp on the dowel. The most distinctive feature of this line is the unique low-mounted Silver Bell flange, which has f-hole shaped cuts for sound holes. The resonator back is dark-finished flame maple, bound in black celluloid with inlaid concentric contrasting wood rings; this earlier example has no nameplate. The heavy Silver Bell tone ring is the later non-perforated style. The tailpiece is the original adjustable Oettinger in excellent condition and the long armrest is intact as well. The #2 has all silver plated hardware, a nice touch although a fairly subtler upgrade!
The multi-laminate maple neck has a floral pattern carved heel and multiple wood underlays beneath the ivoroid-bound ebony fingerboard which carries delicate shaped pearl inlay. The laminate headstock (both front and back) has elaborate floral pearl inlay around the "B&D Silver Bell" logo and a small decorative pearl piece on the back. The Silver Bell series are among the finest banjos ever built, and this #2 is a lovely example. This beautiful, charming and elegant professional tenor plays and sounds great a century along with another ahead of it.
Overall length is 33 1/2 in. (85.1 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 4 in. (10.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This banjo is just turning 100 years old and has survived a century very nicely. The finish appears all original with only very minor wear mostly small scrapes and dings to the back of the resonator. The silver still shines with some general plating wear, mostly to some of the hooks and the top edge of the armrest.
The parts are all original and correct except there is no mute fitted; it appears to have been removed ages ago as there are few marks of its presence. One of the threaded resonator mounting bolts is a nice repro but the other three are original. The original frets have some very light wear and the banjo plays very well, set up with a Deering renaissance style head and newer bridge. This is a fine sounding and playing Silverbell, with the powerful "snap" these are known for. It resides in a beautiful zipper-lined original HSC which is solid with some wear and a later handle and is ready for another century of playing, a period open-ended wrench and slipcover are included. Overall Excellent Condition.