Comment by Edward Marshe Parslow on February 20, 2018 at 16:47

I would be interested to know if anybody here has seen or heard of the whereabouts or owners of these two Charlie Parslow banjos made by James T Parslow.

The description at auction was: “Two Parslow banjos both stamped C.Parslow in original cases. James Parslow banjo maker (1848-1920) - made both instruments for his son Charles, who played with The Palladium Minstrels and Al Jolson touring the world.”

Comment by Keith Wilson on February 23, 2018 at 17:28

Hello Edward, I think you may have come up to Leeds and bought one of my Parslow Banjo`s ?

I first saw these 2 advertised on ebay, if I remember correctly. I went over to somewhere in Lancashire to see them, and at that time they belonged to a Dealer in Watches. He was asking ,what I considered , far to much for them, and the week after he advised me that he had sold them at an Antique Fair.

I then saw them come up for auction at Great Western Auctions in Glasgow, but I didn't think they sold ?

Not sure just where they are now ??

Keith

Comment by Edward Marshe Parslow on February 23, 2018 at 20:03

Hi Keith,

No I haven't bought a Parslow banjo from you but I think I know of a Parslow member who did.

The reason for my interest in the two 'Charlie' banjos, in fact any surviving Parslow, is that I am tentavely trying to form a registry with specifications and pics to get some idea of their evolution as no apparent documentation has yet come to light. Due to the lack of serial numbers one has to resort to their construction, styles and materials &c. The short bio of James Parslow states that he made every part of the banjo himself in his Kingston on Thames workshop but no source stated.

I started laying the registry this week with specs and pics of nine Parslows - six of them mine, although I know of at least six others -- hopefully one of them being you Keith -- but the references are mostly from ten years or more. So if there is anybody out there . . .!

Ed.

Comment by Edward Marshe Parslow on July 29, 2018 at 20:37

I have had no luck locating these banjos so far -- there must be someone out there who has information!

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