Joe Morley's Banjo for sale?

[Adam]

On the banjo hangout, Joe Morley's banjo for sale.

http://www.banjohangout.org/classified/20790

 

Without wanting to offend the original poster, or anyone who knows him, is this legit?

 

Way out of my price range, but it'll a great treat for someone!

[Mike Moss]

Banjogasm! Pity I couldn't possibly afford it... what an amazing piece of history!

[Richard William Ineson]

Yes, I can vouch for the authenticity of the banjo and the legitimacy of the poster/seller, I have known both of them for many years and have played the banjo many times, I also knew the previous owner of the banjo and how he came by the instrument.

[Adam]

Thanks for that confirmation, Richard.  I figured it was legitimate - the seller would have to be very bold indeed to try to sell something like that on the banjo hangout and not have the real deal.

 

[24ymvtt04oa63]

Yes, Richard is perfectly correct, he even played on this banjo on the 'Joe Morley Day' that

I arranged in Streatham when the late Sally Murrell graciously unvelied Joe's white marble

headstone.  You can see the photographs of this event on the internet.

This particular wood-hoop Weaver was given to Morley by the great West Country banjoist

John Percy Cunningham, whose intials are decoratively engraved on the peghead shield.

Joe was a 'regular' at the home of Dick Pepper, producer of the Kentucky Minstrels radio

broadcasts that featured the 'Kentuckt Banjo Team' in which Morley played. The banjo

remained at Pepper's Twickenham home (plus a stack of Joe's unpublished works and

other papers) following Joe's passing. Eventually the banjo and papers were given to my

late friend Charles Bramley by Mrs. Pepper following the death of her husband whilst out

on a shopping trip. The banjo came into my ownership when Charles died. 

The caption to the well known photograph of Jack Hird that claims he is playing a 'Morley

Weaver' is not correct. The instrument looks like a Weaver copy that also has a white nut.

The actual case for my 'Morley Weaver' is behind Jack on the table.  It is correct that Jack

had a play on Joe's banjo at that rally , but the one he is shown playing is not it.  

[Tim Hird]

Hi,

Dad had four banjos left when he died. A Paragon that sold very quickly, another one I forget the name of which also sold, and I still have his Farland and his Monarch Windsor Whirle. Both are for sale if anyone is interested. I can mail photos if required;

Tim Hird

[Keith Wilson]

Hello Tim, Would like to see the photo`s, I did know your Dad-Thanks Keith

Tim Hird said:

Hi,

Dad had four banjos left when he died. A Paragon that sold very quickly, another one I forget the name of which also sold, and I still have his Farland and his Monarch Windsor Whirle. Both are for sale if anyone is interested. I can mail photos if required;

Tim Hird

[Tim Hird]

Hi Keith,

Can you send your email address, it will be easier to send you a link to a website because the files are too big and too many! By the way were you deputy head at heckmondwike grammar school?

Regards, Tim

Keith Wilson said:

Hello Tim, Would like to see the photo`s, I did know your Dad-Thanks Keith

Tim Hird said:

Hi,

Dad had four banjos left when he died. A Paragon that sold very quickly, another one I forget the name of which also sold, and I still have his Farland and his Monarch Windsor Whirle. Both are for sale if anyone is interested. I can mail photos if required;

Tim Hird