Estate Find-Same Barn as Dobson

[Tim Twiss]

I was contacted by a fellow who found in a box of books from an estate sale, a loose collection of songs dated 1856 under the name of "J. Buckley" and appears to be a group of of unbound, but related banjo style tunes. I had this fellow photo some of  the pages and there were at least 9 songs I had never seen, including some arranged for banjo and fiddle, and vocal arrangements in parts along with notes about engagements and booking a travelling Minstrel show with a ledger of expenses.  He mentions a meeting with "F. B." regarding something about publications. Also in the box were what appears to be early thimbles-there were 7 of them. Also was a daguerreotype of what appears to be the Buckleys on stage holding their instruments. I am leaving tonight to check it out...he is offering the box as a donation, if we can put a value on it and find it a home.  

[Greg Adams]

Wow Tim! This sounds amazing! Keep us posted please!

[Tim Twiss]

I'll be leaving at 3:00 this afternoon...should be there by late evening.

[Trapdoor2]

Bad day to post stuff like this...or a good day. ;-)

[Dave Culgan]

Cool find. Maybe F. B. is Fred Buckley (probably stating the obvious). My g-g-g-uncle, E. N. Catlin, was the leader of Buckley's in Boston, after Fred died. My family has some of his published sheet music, piano scores, but I haven't yet been able to work out any banjo-vocal arrangements. Dave Culgan

[Paul Certo]

Wow, that's cool as all heck! Just seeing such stuff would give me chicken skin.

Paul

[BanjoSue]

I’m not sure if this is a coincidence, but I read about an estate sale in Clermont County, just outside of Cincinnati. I saw the box of listed banjo material in an unmarked box at a viewing last week, and was able to pick it up early this morning from a niece handling the sale.. It has to be the described goods in this discussion. I play very little minstrel banjo, but I do have a boucher that was given to me a few years ago. I don’t know who the Buckleys are, but the stuff seemed old and worth getting. The descriptions of travel a re fascinating, and the variations of pay between GS Buckley and S (or is it “F”) Buckley are quite significant. Also, I did not know about the fingerpicks in the box. The photo (or whatever it is..tintype or something) shows 3 yong men and an older gentleman holding some combination of banjos and a fiddle. It is signed on the back, but I can’t make it out.

   I hope Mr. twiss is not disappointed when he arrives and finds the box already spoken for, and can be understanding about the miscommunication. I herd about minstrel banjo from the Banjo hangout. Perhaps if he logs in to this site before he gets there, we can connect and I can show him what I have. I don’t want to part with it, as it may be valuable.               

[Carl Anderton]

If this is for real it is indeed quite a find.  I can understand not wanting to part with these artifacts, but what really interests us here is just reading the journal and viewing the pictures.  This will add significantly to our growing body of primary source materials.

[Tim Twiss]

Banjo Sue? I'm afraid we have not met, but WHERE ARE YOU?? There is nobody at the Whetherbee estate when I got there at 8:00. I'm killing time at a Starbucks in Cincy until I can figure something out. I was to meet Robert F. there at 8:30.

PLEASE call me at 248-310-5508. I had an arrangement. Do you really have the box? Sue...what is your phone #???   

[BanjoSue]

hEello timothy. I stayed online hopig you would log in. I will call you for an arrangment place to meet.  

[Tim Twiss]

Oh man, I drive all that way, open the box, and what do I find?? 

[Greg Adams]

lol lol lol lol lol lol lol

 

What a peculiar way to Converse with your friends on the 1st day of April. If you aren't careful, we'll send you to multiple Briggs for your behavior. From there we will enjoy this great 'stroke' of genius on your part, even though you are behaving somewhat deRice-ively. Howe will you top this and treatise to another Twiss of fate? I guess we'll have to wait until next year! Boucher, Mr Twiss, Boucher, you are the Winner. Ya can't separate the wheat from the Chaff [Gumbo, that is]. 

[Ian Bell]

Judy guessed ....I didn't!