Steve's Windsor Popular Number 1

[Steve Harrison]

Please view photos of my latest acquisition from Ebay. I was the only bidder on this, it was hidden away amongst the banjo bits and pieces rather than in the 5 string section.  I can only surmise it was overlooked. I got it for £200, it's in great condition, and I think that this was just about on the money. I've done my usual dodge by adding a Weaver style tail-piece and I had to do a slight adjustment to the arm to get the action right. I've made a Windsor style bridge and added Chris Sands strings. I plays well and the resonator is a rare addition but appears contemporary to the banjo.

[thereallyniceman]

That is a great looking banjo, and it seems to be in such a nice condition too. The resonator really does look the part.  How's about a video Steve?

See if YOU can beat the red eyed video monster.

 

Please don't start me collecting banjos again, my ears have only just stopped smarting after buying the last one.

:-)

 

[marc dalmasso]

congratulations  , Steve  ; i can say the reso is original to the banjo because i have almost the same banjo , parallel necked _  (i will publish the pictures )  Here ' s a fantastic paper , the original sale_bill , i guess which was in the case of the Bj . Unfortunatly , there is no date but the stamp should say 1922 ;  ? ?  we learn about the price of the banjo , the price of the reso and many things too . Yet , a lil mistake ; the banjo is not 11 ' but really 10 5/8 like most of these banjos ; what about your 's ?

[Steve Harrison]

Thanks for your reply and comments. The head on my banjo is also 10 5/8" which is about right for Windsors of that age. I have a collection of 5 vintage banjos but have been able to find nothing about their history. The fact that you have a receipt gives real provenance. Have you found out anything about Edward Head and how did to obtain your Windsor?

[Steve Harrison]

It is interesting to compare the relative value of the banjo in 1922 to what it would sell for in 2011. Using the average wage calculator for the U.K, £5.15s in 1922 would be  worth£1030 in 2011.  It just shows that good quality banjos historically have never been particularly cheap.

marc dalmasso said:

congratulations  , Steve  ; i can say the reso is original to the banjo because i have almost the same banjo , parallel necked _  (i will publish the pictures )  Here ' s a fantastic paper , the original sale_bill , i guess which was in the case of the Bj . Unfortunatly , there is no date but the stamp should say 1922 ;  ? ?  we learn about the price of the banjo , the price of the reso and many things too . Yet , a lil mistake ; the banjo is not 11 ' but really 10 5/8 like most of these banjos ; what about your 's ?

[marc dalmasso]

Strangely ; i had mine in approx the same conditions you had yours ; ebay  , 200 £ , poor pictures and we were may be only 2 bidders ; The seller didn 't mentioned the receipt ; didn ' t mentioned the original hex-wrench . I found a stampon the web  prooving the period :1922 ; I have of course never heard ' bout Edward Head ; may be we could find something because of the compositions mentioned on the receipt ? : " popular tango " , winifred   "gavotte "