For enthusiasts of early banjo

Possible 1870s HC Dobson?

Just got this old banjo on eBay. It was listed as homemade or folk art, which is why there were no serious bidders.

I think it is an 1870s H.C. Dobson, before he went to the more conventional design in the 1880s.

Any thoughts, pro or con about that I.D.? Haven't taken it apart yet, so don't know if it says Dobson inside the pot.

Jim Jacquet

Olympia, WA

1 member likes this

Comment by Jim Jacquet on October 28, 2013 at 8:30pm: Just took off the head. No identifying marks inside the pot whatsoever--which makes me wonder if it is a HC Dobson afterall. Very curious...

Comment by Strumelia on October 28, 2013 at 8:51pm: Kind of a Halloween-y banjo if you ask me! Dig the crazy red alien vine coming out from behind there, too! =8-0

Comment by Jim Jacquet on October 28, 2013 at 8:58pm: Jim Bollman just emailed me these thoughts:

Today at 6:47 PM

Many Buckbee products from this era were unmarked. I have had identical banjos in the past – some marked Dobson, some unmarked. I’ve never however seen early ( 1860s-1870s ) banjos with any kind of Buckbee stamp. The “ JHB “ and other Buckbee marks and tags seem to have occurred in the later 1880s and 1890s. The only way to identify many of these instruments is by overall design, type of hardware, neck, peghead, heel profiles, etc. Best, Jim ( try sending me better photos if / when you take them )

Comment by Valerie Diaz Leroy on October 28, 2013 at 9:07pm: What an adventure! We can't wait to hear (and see) more.

Comment by James Pentecost on October 28, 2013 at 9:21pm: http://www.musurgia.com/image_popup.asp?img=1411_banjo/1411_3.jpg

Dobson on Musurgia site.

Comment by Jim Jacquet on October 28, 2013 at 9:26pm: Yes, Saw that. Different peghead shape.

Comment by Ian Bell on October 29, 2013 at 6:52am: Interesting that the maker put the fifth fret on both sides of the fifth string slot. An aesthetic decision I guess.

Comment by Jim Jacquet on October 29, 2013 at 12:50pm: Sent Jim Bollman a few more pics, and he feels it is probably not an HC Dobson, but also doesn't think the neck was added later. Heres his email:
Today at 10:17 AM
Hi Jim- I've seen the HBO threads about the rim looking like an early top tension ( Buckbee-Dobson ) and the neck perhaps made by someone else. While a possibility I think it more likely that the banjo is original, not necessarily made to a Dobson pattern by Buckbee, perhaps done for another vendor which might account for a peghead shape , lack of heel cutout, lack of the characteristic cut at the fifth peg area, etc. I've seen other early Buckbee products with the odd fifth peg area treatment. Since you've started to disassemble the banjo you might look for telltale signs around the rim-heel joint that another neck was affixed to the banjo at some point. Again it looks right to me from the photos but a close examination would be necessary to talk with authority. Best, jim

Comment by Jim Jacquet on October 29, 2013 at 12:51pm: Whoever made it, I want to fix it up and play it! Always fun bringing these old banjos back to life!

Jim Jacquet

Comment by Bell Banjos on October 29, 2013 at 2:46pm: The crooked frets say a mouthful. I have a feeling it's the first attempt of a skilled woodworker, not banjo maker. Or the frets may have been put on later. My reasoning is this - Why would anyone go to all that work and not set up a simple jig to saw the fret grooves?

Comment

About