Stewart Cello-Banjo on ebay...

[Trapdoor2]

An original "barn-find" Stewart CB surfaced on ebay last week. I sweat bullets till the very end...but got outbid by less than $100 (I use a sniping program). I'm heart-broken...but I simply couldn't afford to put more on it (it went for nearly $3200.00).

 

Sigh. I doubt another will ever appear (this is the first I've seen for sale in the past 20 yrs), I guess I'll go back to plan B and build one (plan C is to have one built).

[thereallyniceman]

Commiserations  Marc.  It seems amazing just how much that cello banjo went for, particularly in that condition. I did not realise just how desirable they were! 

Let's hope they are like the buses here in the UK...   None come for ages then two come along at once.

:-)

[Trapdoor2]

At the banjo collector's gathering, Eli Kaufman told me he knew of only 12...now 13. I did not think this one would go so high. Of course, realized auction prices often drive value. If another goes on sale, it will take a good deal more to win it. Before this one, I suspect I could have waved $3000.00 at one of the 12 and walked home smiling (with CB in hand). Now, I think one in good, playable condition would probably require 3 times that. =8^O

 

Maybe if I wave enough money at Bill Rickard, he'll make a 16" spunover rim for me. He currently does 11" and 12" spunovers. I did talk to him about it a few years back...but he declined as it was too big.

[marc dalmasso]

sorry ; it would be  cool if this cello  could have go to a player ; but you cannot have chance to have it if a collector want it ; 2 or 3 weeks ago , a CE concert grand tenor  went for almost the same price ( 2439 £ exactly ) ; the banjo had no case , no resonator and these same models ( 5th strings ) usually go for 1400 £ maxi on ebay ; but i think the  CD tenor concert grand is rare , this is the reason , may be

[Jody Stecher]

You might be lucky you lost. I don't think this cello banjo would prove to be 3200 worth of musical instrument. Just my opinion.

[12kc24z8ksxvk]

I got the Farland 12.5 ca 1925 with added resonator that was on ebay a few weeks back at a very reasonably price.  Possibly because it went unrecognized.  In regard to making spun overs, Bill R. is only having them done one way which is different then what Stewart et al did.   He and his team orignally were making a sleeve and spinning it over the wood interior rim.   This is what was done in the old days.   Then he met a really good metal spinner that could spin a flat sheet down over a wood rim making a seamless spinning.  I also tried to get a bare spun pot from him but no go.  In regards to making your own you could have a big Farland bevelled style rim bent up.  I do 11.5 rims for my clawhammer banjos and could do bigger  bent rims.     

[Trapdoor2]

Yes, I looked at the Farland, glad it went to a good home!

 

I have talked to Bill R. a couple of times regarding his spunover rims. Spinning metal of that size isn't easy and is fraught with danger/problems. His "one piece" process is the best possible but it creates a lot of waste. Fixture costs for something like a 16" rim would be expensive.

 

I have researched the Stewart method quite a bit. I have a good bit of metal-shop experience myself and could probably do a Stewart type rim in my workshop. That will have to wait until I retire though!

Jan Bloom said:

I got the Farland 12.5 ca 1925 with added resonator that was on ebay a few weeks back at a very reasonably price.  Possibly because it went unrecognized.  In regard to making spun overs, Bill R. is only having them done one way which is different then what Stewart et al did.   He and his team orignally were making a sleeve and spinning it over the wood interior rim.   This is what was done in the old days.   Then he met a really good metal spinner that could spin a flat sheet down over a wood rim making a seamless spinning.  I also tried to get a bare spun pot from him but no go.  In regards to making your own you could have a big Farland bevelled style rim bent up.  I do 11.5 rims for my clawhammer banjos and could do bigger  bent rims.