A beautifully restored 1926 Bacon & Day SilverBell N0.1 made in Groton, CT. The Bacon and Day company was the collaboration of David Day, former plant manager of the Vega Banjo Company and Fred Bacon. The Bacon and Day company are universally known for their craftsmanship and exceptional build quality of prewar tenor banjos. The Silver Bells in particular have exceptional volume and cutting power, with great tonal qualities and very much sought after by the Irish banjoist. The neck is 100% straight with low playing action and It plays in tonal perfection up the fret length. The neck has been professionally refinished along with the resonator.  5 piece maple/ebony neck with ivoroid binding along the fretboard edge. Ivoroid-bound 24 frets ebony fingerboard with varied MOP inlay pattern position makers, (20 frets to the tension hoop) and has a scale length of 23.5″ and nut width of 30mm.  The finely shaped heel cap is made from ebony. “B&D / SILVER / BELL” and fancy pearl leaf inlays on headstock overlay. The geared tuners are 5 star quality with ivoriod cream buttons.

The resonator is beautifully finished in a dark brown sunburst and connected to a f style flange. Plating throughout is in very good condition as seen from the photos. This model has the Silverbell tone ring with the 29 holes for better acoustic sound. The banjo is fitted with a new white smooth top Remo 11″ head and one of Marinie Toman’s hand crafted ebony bridges, original Oettinger 4 finger tailpiece and B&D armrest. Fitted with new nickel strings 12,17,28,38 and comes with brand new brown leatherette hardshell case.

Banjo serial #17698

Details:

• f hole resonator flange
• 24 fret ebony extended fingerboard with beautiful diamond cut pearl inlay postion markers.
• 5 piece maple/ebony neck with ivoroid binding along the fretboard edge.
• Fancy floral design pearl inlaid head-stock bearing the name SilverBell
• Mother of pearl inlay to rear of headstock
• Oettinger 4 finger tailpiece and Hercules geared tuners
• New hardshell case

inlay position markers, headstock inlayed with with a pearl floral pattern. Tone ring is the elaborate “cupped” or sometimes called ‘donut’ Washburn style. The resonator is tobacco stained birdseye maple and has a engraved metal flange attached to the outer edge at the top and diamond wood marquetry around both edges.

The vintage geared tuners are original Washburn type all working perfectly and keeping in tune. They have the original grained ivoroid buttons. The tailpiece is an original Kersher Unique marked “Lyon & Healy Makers” and there is an unusual Washburn-specific armrest with a dressed-away outer edge. Overall it is beautifully made at a very high level of craftsmanship.

This is a lovely fancy banjo, and something of a rarity. A fine playing and sounding instrument especially suited to the Irish style with low action playing and a solid all-original collector’s piece.

Scale length is 23 inches. Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.). An excellent player, set up with a new Remo 3/4″ white smooth top head, new strings and bridge. The neck is straight with good frets and has been completely refurbished at pure banjo workshop. Comes with a vintage hard shell case.