The last Vibrante Royal ever made?

[Steven Watson]

I received this banjo today, which was described in the auction as the last Vibrante Royal ever made. This isn't why I bought it but I'd nevertheless be curious to know if it's true. Perhaps someone here can help? I'd certainly be grateful. The serial number is 5563 285. Inside the case was a print out identifying this number as the last one made (see photos below).

There was also a 1939 letter inside from what looks like F.C. Musselbrook to a Mr Watson. This is of particular interest to me as Watson is my surname too...! I'd be curious to know who he was.

Lastly, and I don't know if this is of interest, but just in case, there were several original unused gut 3rds in the case, labelled 'D'Arblay House / Cammeyer / 10 Poland St. London', as well as two wire 2nds, one red gut 3rd, and some wound strings, possibly silk. There is also a 1935 receipt for a full set of Cammeyer zither banjo strings.

[Steven Watson]

Interesting. Always so many Watsons! Given Young's connection to JAT, I'm wondering if Cammeyer's records ended up with JAT -- will investigate...

Yes, I got the Clifford Essex zither banjo set but realise this is still too high tension. Even their Cammeyer set has 026 wound 4th. I'm guessing I'll just have to buy strings individually, if possible, and make up a set? 

Richard William Ineson said:

I had until recently, a lot of Cammeyer pieces which were stamped with 'W. E. Watson', and the address 68, Falconer Rd. Bushey, Herts. The only pieces I kept from this pile were 'Handy Jack' and 'Danse Bizarre' which I used to play with Paul Whyman in the 1990s. As to Cammeyer strings, Cammeyer certainly sold unwound 3rd wire strings, I still have one or two in their original 'Swallow Street' packets. Cammeyer wire strings were not plated as Cam claimed that the plating affected the tone of the strings adversely. Zither banjo strings, in my limited experience were generally very light gauges, 007 for 1st strings, for instance, and I would think that the 022 gauge 4th strings would be about right, Paul and I used 023 gauge 4th strings, which were all that were readily available at the time. Most banjo strings on offer for the classic banjo these days are far too heavy, in my opinion, one company offering 028 gauge 4th strings which I cannot imagine being capable of producing the characteristic slides which are such a feature of banjo music. I have a Syney Young Vibrante Royale which was made in the 1960s, I believe. The back of the peg head is stamped 'John Alvey Turner' and the number, 108. The heel of the banjo is stamped 'Sydney W. Young', the banjo belonged to Leonard Hussey at one time, he may have been the original owner.

[Richard William Ineson]

I believe that Keith Wilson now has the Cammeyer records.

[Richard William Ineson]

As to Cammeyer bridge heights, I think that Cam favoured 3/4 inch high bridges on his zither banjos. The only way to get a satisfactory set of zither banjo strings, is as you say, by assembling them yourself. I'm pleased that the zither banjo is enjoying renewed interest, I used to play Humoresque, Danse Bizarre, Merrie Company, Luna Lure, Bolero, Marche en Passant, Down Devon Way, Don't Sigh Don't Cry, Dustman's Picnic, Albumblatt, Handy Jack and a few others which will come to mind at about 3.00 am. I think that Danse Bizarre, Down Devon Way, and  Marche en Passant are the best of the duets and are very satisfying to play.

[Jody Stecher]

I have had success in feel and in sound using light gauge steel for strings 1,2, and 5, gut or nylgut for string 3, and an Aquila Type D lute string, which is copper wound on nylgut filaments.  For a Camm Vibrante Royal  I've used, measured in inches, .08 for the 1st and 5th, and .10 for the 2nd string. I use a number 73 Aquila gut or nylgut string or the third string and a number 108 type D (nothing to do with the pitch "D") for the bass. For the typical non-Camm slightly shorter scale zither-banjo I use 9 and 11 for the trebles and keep the 3rd and 4th the same.

for the usual scale of zither-banjos

9,11, 73 nylgut, 108  Aquila type D, 9

Cammeyer Vibrante Royal

8,10, 73 gut, 108 Aquila type D, 8 

Steven Watson said:

I'm guessing I'll just have to buy strings individually, if possible, and make up a set? 

[Steven Watson]

Do you perchance have contact info for him? I see he's a member here, but appears to be inactive.

Richard William Ineson said:

I believe that Keith Wilson now has the Cammeyer records.

[Steven Watson]

Thank you both for string suggestions. I measured an original 3rd gut and an original 2nd wire that were in the case. The 3rd string was .8mm (.315") and the 2nd string was .22mm (.086")

[Richard William Ineson]

I understand that Keith has been in hospital for several weeks this year which might explain his absence from this site. I don't seem to have his email address but I will try to find someone who has his contact details. He lives in Leeds and may have a Facebook account or be member of Banjo Club or other FB banjo site.

Steven Watson said:

Do you perchance have contact info for him? I see he's a member here, but appears to be inactive.

Richard William Ineson said:

I believe that Keith Wilson now has the Cammeyer records.

[Steven Watson]

I found him on FB and have just sent a message. I'll let you know if I hear anything. I hope he's okay.

Richard William Ineson said:

I understand that Keith has been in hospital for several weeks this year which might explain his absence from this site. I don't seem to have his email address but I will try to find someone who has his contact details. He lives in Leeds and may have a Facebook account or be member of Banjo Club or other FB banjo site.

[Steven Watson]

Well, it turns out that Keith previously owned this banjo! He has the ledger and, yes, as far as he can tell it was the last Vibrante Royal made under Cammeyer's name.

[Richard William Ineson]

All's well that ends well, as they say. A small world with old banjos being passed on to new owners as usual. It is interesting to know that the last VR is still in existence. Cam retired in 1938, the year that his wife died, he then moved up north, to Brailsford in Derbyshire where he lived on the Strutt (Arthur Strutt, a local mill owner, whose ancestor Jedediah Strutt, built some of the world's first water-powered cotton spinning mills, In 1803, Strutt's North Mill was rebuilt using the world's first fireproof iron frame. This was to become the blueprint for modern skyscrapers.) estate in a house which he named 'Luna Lure'. Arthur Strutt was a banjo fan and pupil of Cammeyer.

Steven Watson said:

Well, it turns out that Keith previously owned this banjo! He has the ledger and, yes, as far as he can tell it was the last Vibrante Royal made under Cammeyer's name.

[Joel Hooks]

It would be nice if persons associated with Keith could persuade him (or allow someone else) to scan/digitize and post the Cammeyer ledger in entirety.  It would be a huge historical loss if such a document were to be lost in the shuffle that occurs when the unavoidable end happens.  

[Richard William Ineson]

I agree, but I don't see Keith very often and we have never been on intimate terms so I don't feel able to approach him on the subject. There are not many Classic banjo players left in the UK and I'm not sure who is in a position to contact him and ask him about the Cammeyer records which I have seen a couple of times but I have never been able to examine them in detail. I was a bit disappointed when I did see them as they just seem to be a list of numbers relating to the various instruments with no other details other than the kind of wood used in the manufacture of each instrument. It would have been interesting to see who bought the instruments but as far  as I know, the names of the customers are not listed.

Joel Hooks said:

It would be nice if persons associated with Keith could persuade him (or allow someone else) to scan/digitize and post the Cammeyer ledger in entirety.  It would be a huge historical loss if such a document were to be lost in the shuffle that occurs when the unavoidable end happens.