Lyon & Healy Washburn Style A Model Tenor Banjo, c. 1925, made in Chicago, shaded maple finish, laminated maple neck and rim, ebony fingerboard, laminated maple and mahogany resonator, original black hard shell case.
A very classy mid-1920's short-neck tenor banjo from Lyon & Healy, labeled with their top-of-the-line Washburn name. The features are fairly high grade, including a beautiful tiger-striped laminated maple neck, grained ivoroid-bound ebony fingerboard with fancy shaped pearl inlay, and headstock inlaid with with a pearl floral pattern. Tone ring is the elaborate "cupped" Washburn style. The resonator has a metal flange attached to the outer edge at the top and diamond wood marquetry around both edges.
The tuners are early nickel-plated Waverly "spike" style marked "PAT. APPLIED FOR". With grained ivoroid buttons. The tailpiece is an original Kersher Unique marked "Lyon & Healy Makers" and there is an unusual Washburn-specific armrest with a dressed-away outer edge. The entire instrument has a rather Vega-like design feel, especially the "pie plate" resonator back.
Overall it is beautifully made at a very high level of craftsmanship. This is a lovely and medium-fancy banjo, and something of a rarity. A fine-playing and sounding instrument especially suited to the Irish style (due to the short 21" scale) and a solid all-original collector's piece.
Overall length is 31 1/8 in. (79 cm.), 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm.) diameter head, and 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 21 in. (533 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
All original with some moderate wear overall, mostly scratches to the resonator back and some finish worn down on the back of the neck. An excellent player, set up with a high quality skin head and including the original HSC. Excellent Condition.
