This picture is of four banjos that came from the workbench of the master craftsman, Alfred Weaver. They are in the collection of Tony Bryan and John Field.

From left to right:
1. Nominal 12 inch diameter, 2¾ inch deep hoop, 19 frets, 24 brackets, mahogany and ebony arm, stamped 'A. Weaver Maker London WC' on the front and back of the dowel stick. It has a floating ebony tailpiece.
2. Nominal 11 inch diameter, 2¾ inch deep hoop, 22 frets, 22 brackets, mahogany and ebony arm, is stamped 'CE SPECIAL' and has a 'Clifford Essex Co 15A Grafton St Bond Street London W' label on the front of the dowel stick. It came with a 'Reliance' tooled leather case.
3. Nominal 10½ inch diameter, 2½ inch deep hoop, 22 frets, 22 brackets, walnut and ebony arm with a contrasting wood veneer between the walnut and the ebony, stamped 'CLIFFORD ESSEX 15A GRAFTON STREET W' on the front of the dowel stick. It has a plated CE lyre tailpiece.
4. Nominal 10½ inch diameter, 2½ inch deep hoop, 22 frets, 22 brackets, mahogany and ebony arm, stamped ESSEX & CAMMEYER 59.PICCADILLY LONDON. W 1862' on the front of the dowel stick. The stamping appears to be over a previous stamp of 'CAMMEYER'. It has a floating ebony tailpiece.

The diameters have been given as 'nominal' because they are never exactly the round number but are commonly referred to by these dimensions.

All four have the characteristic square nuts of a Weaver throughout, though the 12 inch model has closed nuts over the brackets on the inside of the hoop.

They all date from the late 19th to early 20th century, and possibly appeared together in the CE shop window arranged as shown (no harm in dreaming!).

All four are in excellent playing condition and can be heard when John and Tony give their (rare as hen's teeth) public performances.

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Views: 127

Comment by Richard William Ineson on January 12, 2017 at 18:53

Good to see four in a row. I wonder how many banjos did he make and how many survive?

Comment by thereallyniceman on January 14, 2017 at 10:36

What make is the wooden armrest?  It doesn't look like a CE as it seems it sit outside the hoop.

Weavers are simply the best sounding Classic Banjos!  IMHO

Comment by TONY BRYAN on January 14, 2017 at 11:03
Well spotted, that man! The armrest is by Nechville and approximately 100 years younger than the Weavers. They clamp on between the top and bottom of the hoop. They are the most comfortable armrests I have found and come in a variety of woods: the one in the picture is the closest match to the Cuban mahogany of the arm. Sorry about the confusion.
Comment by thereallyniceman on January 14, 2017 at 14:00

Thanks Tony, any chance you could post a closeup photo of how it fits on the Weaver? I looked at the Nechville site and can't work it out.

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