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Topic: Vintage Banjo |
Charles Curtis
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Posted 8 Sep 2007 1:56 pm |
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| I have an old banjo that belonged to my grandad, open back with a very old marking "Silvertone" and the Number 406 in old lettering on the inside. I have not been able to find any history on the internet. I do know that "Silvertone" was a brand, I believe that was sold by Sears years ago. A guy told me that they were acquired by "Samick"; I've looked there too. Has anyone ever had one of these? It has a white star on the keyhead. I'm just curious about the brand; when I was a boy I never thought to ask him where he got it, but boy could he play. |
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Bill Pillmore
From:
Asheville, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 8 Sep 2007 3:11 pm Banjo
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I am interested. could you send a picture of the drum inside and the peg head?
How are the frets?
Bill |
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David Nugent
From:
Gum Spring, Va.
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Posted 8 Sep 2007 3:21 pm
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| Charles....Silvertone was a brand name for the instruments that were sold by Sears Roebuck. Their instruments were purchased from different manufacturers (the guitars of that period for example were built by Harmony (USA) and Danelectro). The star on the peghead could possibly mean it was built by the Vega co. as most of their more plain, lower end banjos featured that particular inlay. An examination of the dowel stick holding the neck to the body may reveal the name of the builder. |
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Charles Curtis
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Posted 9 Sep 2007 5:50 am
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| David, I can't find anything there. On the sticker, there is nothing written in front of the word "Style", it's blank, but after the blank is No. 406. The body, or circular piece appears to be wood on the inside and metal on the outside and the chrome or whatever it is, is flaking off at this point. I'm not selling it and it's probably not worth much on the market as a lot of the frets are missing. This old man was my hero and he passed away in 1954. He used to let me ride on the "plow-stock" as he plowed the fields and he left hundreds of friends when he left this life. |
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David Nugent
From:
Gum Spring, Va.
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Posted 9 Sep 2007 8:09 am
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| Charles, The plating on the metal parts is most likely nickel as was customary during that period. You may try searching for information on Vega banjos from the approximate time period you believe the banjo was built and check for similarities.. (The Vega name was purchased by the Martin Guitar Co. in the 60's or 70's and is presently owned by the Deering Banjo Co.) Hope this is helpful, best of luck. |
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