Bacon & Day Silver Bell #1 Conversion Model 5 String Banjo (1925), made in Groton CT, shaded maple finish, laminated maple rim, resonator and neck, black tolex hard shell case.
Here's an interesting and great-sounding 5-string for a player with a taste for something different -- an early B&D Silverbell expertly converted to 5-string quite some time ago. Original Silverbell 5-string instruments do exist, but are so rare most players have never seen one.
This is the original rim and tailpiece fitted out with a very fine replica neck using the original dowel stick, fingerboard inlay, and headstock overlay, with the correct type of wood laminations and finishing for a period B&D...even the proper grained ivoroid binding. The neck is big and chunky, with a very comfortable feel.
Tuners are older Five Star Planets with ivoroid buttons, with a geared fifth string peg. The rim is a fairly early Silverbell #1 with an f-hole flange, ports inside but not outside the tone ring, and no name plate on the resonator back. The tailpiece is the original Presto drilled for a fifth string. This banjo pre-dated the introduction of the B&D soft pedal design and has never had a mute fitted. The resonator back is spectacularly burled maple, one of the nicest #1's we have seen.
This banjo is very loud, but has quite a different tone from the usual Mastertone sound, with a warmer ring and great 'life' to each note.
Overall length is 37 1/2 in. (95.2 cm.), 11 in. (27.9 cm.) diameter head, and 4 1/16 in. (10.3 cm.) deep. Scale length is 27 in. (686 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/16 in. (33 mm.).
This banjo has seen a lot of use, but no damage or repairs. There is some noticeable plating loss to the hoop and armrest, and general finish and plating wear, but overall it is quite well-preserved. Set up with an old "Liberty Banjo Company" plastic head that has seen a lot of festivals but still sounds great, with a newer HSC. Excellent Condition.
