Leon E Clerk Banjo

[Pär Engstrand]

So there's an older banjo for sale in Gemany (doesn't happen that often...) Leon E Clerk. Anyone have any experience with banjos made by him? Doesn't look that promising from the pictures but then on the other hand, I know next to nothing....

Leon E Clarke banjo

[Rob MacKillop]

I take it you have seen this?

http://www.vintagebanjomaker.com/#/clerc/4594323396

[Pär Engstrand]

Thanks Rob. Yes, I've seen that.

It's only a 50 min drive from me, the banjo. Maybe I'll just go and look at it. And bring some nylon strings and a bridge....

Unless someone says don't bother, it's bad banjos.

[Jody Stecher]

The stamp seems to say Leon E. Clerc Martz.  Martz?  Is that a place, a person, an abbreviation? The photos are not good so I can't tell what I'm seeing. Is this is a spun over pot? With "German silver"?  If so why does it look like brass in some of the photos?  Are these actually photos of one banjo? Why is the seller not showing photos of the inside of the pot?  These are not questions I expect *you* to answer, Pär.  I'm just typing my jumble of thoughts as they occur.

By the way, the stamp doesn't say Clerk or Clarke or Clark, all of which are present in the eBay add and parts of your post!   It might be a fake if it did.  

[Richard William Ineson]

I think that it says Leon E Clerc Maker. https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&s...

Jody Stecher said:

The stamp seems to say Leon E. Clerc Martz.  Martz?  Is that a place, a person, an abbreviation? The photos are not good so I can't tell what I'm seeing. Is this is a spun over pot? With "German silver"?  If so why does it look like brass in some of the photos?  Are these actually photos of one banjo? Why is the seller not showing photos of the inside of the pot?  These are not questions I expect *you* to answer, Pär.  I'm just typing my jumble of thoughts as they occur.

By the way, the stamp doesn't say Clerk or Clarke or Clark, all of which are present in the eBay add and parts of your post!   It might be a fake if it did.  

[Jody Stecher]

Ah!  It certainly says "maker"  on that other better photographed banjo. And you're right : that's what is stamped on this banjo as well. Thank you  Richard for clearing up the mystery.  Just to complicate things other internet references call the maker Leon DeClerc and Leon Le Clerc neither of which have an apparent basis.

Richard William Ineson said:

I think that it says Leon E Clerc Maker. https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&s...

Jody Stecher said:

The stamp seems to say Leon E. Clerc Martz.  Martz?  Is that a place, a person, an abbreviation? The photos are not good so I can't tell what I'm seeing. Is this is a spun over pot? With "German silver"?  If so why does it look like brass in some of the photos?  Are these actually photos of one banjo? Why is the seller not showing photos of the inside of the pot?  These are not questions I expect *you* to answer, Pär.  I'm just typing my jumble of thoughts as they occur.

By the way, the stamp doesn't say Clerk or Clarke or Clark, all of which are present in the eBay add and parts of your post!   It might be a fake if it did.