ANTIQUE GIBSON and EPIPHONE BANJOS are now available at Betty Anns Antiques and Collectibles While working at a NorthSide Chicago Estate much to our surprise was finding TWO BANJOS in there original cases tucked away in a basement closet!
News-Antique.com - Nov 30,-0001 - While working on a Northside Chicago Estate much to our surprise was finding TWO BANJOS in a basement closet.
One of the BANJOS was made in 1931 by GIBSON at the KALAMAZOO MICHIGAN plant. It is the MASTERTONE SERIES MODEL TB-3 and the SERIAL NUMBER is .
It features: An ARCHTOP, FIDDLE SHAPED PEGHEAD with GIBSON in SCRIPT on an angle and DIAMOND SHAPED INLAYS, BRAZILIAN ROSEWOOD FINGERBOARD with WHITE BINDING, 19 FRETS with DIAMOND SHAPED INLAYS with MASTERTONE on the 19TH FRET, a MAPLE RESONATOR with WHITE BINDING on the top and back edges and MAPLE NECK, 40 HOLE RAISED HEADTONE RING, GROVER TUNERS, NICKLE PLATED METAL HARDWARE and a RED MAHOGANY STAIN LACQUER FINISH.
After removing the back cover we were pleased to see that this banjo carries the COMPLETE OVAL LABLE-GIBSON KALAMAZOO affixed on the inside rim, the SERIAL NUMBER is STAMPED/INCISED on the inside resonator, the SERIAL NUMBER is also HANDWRITTEN on the back of the inside cover in red. The SERIAL NUMBER is 9259-32.
The OTHER BANJO was made by EPHIPHONE of NEW YORK between 1928-1935.
Our research/resource indicates that the RIALTO MODEL was produced/fashioned after the EPIPHONE RECORDING MODELS but that the RIALTO MODEL was considered a budget line.
While the RIALTO MODEL was made to good standards of quality, it was not built with the Ephiphone Recording Model Tone Ring and has less ornamentation than that of the Recording Models.
This BANJO features: A FLAT TOP, a COLORFULL PEARLOID PEGHEAD VENEER with EPHIPHONE RIALTO inscribed on it, a WALNUT NECK with WHITE BINDING on the edges, a ROSEWOOD FINGER BOARD with 22 FRETS that have a INLAID DESIGN PATTERN of 4-CONNECTING DIAMONDS, a WALNUT RESONATOR with a LIGHT COLORED ACCENT DECORATION around the edges and LIGHT COLORED CIRCLE DECORATION on the back, NICKLE PLATED METAL HARDWARE, ONE PIECE FLANGE (might not be original to the banjo), and GROVER TUNERS.
Unfortuneately, after removing the back cover of the EPIPHONE we found no markings, lable or serial number of any kind.
These are beautiful instruments. When you see and play these BANJOS you can really see that they carry the quality and integrity of these two great companies and also the pride of the people who worked there.
We are certain that these Banjos will not be availble in our WebStore for very long!
