Bacon & Day Silver Bell #1 Model Guitar Banjo (1927), made in Groton CT, serial # 18749, shaded maple finish, laminated maple rim and neck, ebony fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This is a rare and beautiful Bacon & Day instrument -the Silver Bell #1 Banjo-Guitar. Although listed as a special-order catalog item, not many of these striking six-string banjos were made and they are rarely seen today. This substantial-feeling banjo carries the full Silver Bell appointments with the deep F hole flange and fancy shaped pearl inlay on the headstock face and fingerboard. There are multiple ebony/maple laminates to neck, heel and head, bound heavy ebony fingerboard and resonator rim. The tone ring still has the early-style perforations to the sheath under the head, but no holes drilled through the ring-an odd transitional feature.
This example also has unusual original Grover patent geared tuners that are not one of the familiar styles (with a spike and oblong casing) and an older 6-string tailpiece. There was never a mute system on this fairly early example. The very thick neck has a comfortable round profile, the banjo plays very well. The Silver Bell is certainly one of the finest banjo-guitars ever made, good for a variety of applications and especially useful for playing in the Modern Dance Orchestra�ca. 1929!
Overall length is 35 1/8 in. (89.2 cm.), 11 5/8 in. (29.5 cm.) diameter head, and 4 in. (10.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 in. (610 mm.). Width of nut is 1 7/8 in. (48 mm.). Some general wear, most notably capo scrapes on the back of the neck behind the first fret. Appears all original except the tailpiece, which is an older 6-string banjo model that has been modified to accept ball-end strings. Set up with a translucent frosted weathering head, very powerful sound. Excellent - Condition.
