For enthusiasts of early banjo
Carthage Reenactment
Playing jigs in camp. 1890-1910 Silver Nickle Pot minstrel banjo. No name...possibly a Sears or Montgomery Wards mail order banjo.
Views: 624
-
Comment by Joel Hooks on November 5, 2012 at 6:43am
-
Your fingerboard seems to be missing part of it. Was there an accident?
-
Comment by Dave Culgan on November 5, 2012 at 9:15am
-
Not an accident, I think its a modification. People modify musical instruments all the time don't they?
-
Comment by Strumelia on November 5, 2012 at 10:33am
-
A little 1800's tater bug mando might be just the thing. It's actually not very hard to find old playable bowlbacks. :)
-
-
Was this a common modification in the 1890s?
-
-
Perhaps some jingles on that tambo.
-
Comment by plucknpick on November 7, 2012 at 9:22pm
-
Part of the finger board chipped off at the base....So I scooped it out to make it look better....the fret board is not ebony, it is some type of rosewood....and a cheaper grade.
-
-
Just started reenacting the Civil War (cause of the banjo) and have not yet found a Civil War era instrument. Looking at Bell and sons....so I won't be so farby...
-
-
HA! So there was an accident.
Most of the turn of the century banjos used "dyed box wood" for fingerboards. Many folks claim pearwood but that is likely speculation. A lot of that wood crumbles to dust.
Keep it up, we all start somewhere. Because you are beginning, you can save yourself cash and frustration by reading all you can and selecting a proper instrument. Same can be applied to your outfit. Lots of bad clothing out there, some good.
This music can be played on any banjo, but in a living history situation the player is the educator. There has been enough bad information spread about the banjo.
The drum that your comrade is playing found its way into popular music in the 1960s, 100 years too late for the ACW. Flat mandolins came about after the turn, i'll let mando experts have that one. I think around 1910.
The mandolin in general would not have been seen in popular music (or most "folk" music) groups during the ACW. The popularity grew late 1880s and peaking late 1890s.
-
-
BTW, The banjoist Phil Rice (name sake of the Phil Rice Banjo Instructor) is Buried in Mt. Home Arkansas. It would be amazing if you could track down his grave and post some photos of it.
It should not be too difficult in a small town.
-
Comment by Nicholas A Bechtel on November 8, 2012 at 1:47pm
-
Nice old Banjo,..regardless you are out there doing it. But there is something that throws things off a bit when one see's later instruments used in the CW setting.
Your in the right place for being put in the right direction on finding a good period reproduction. Be careful they can be like rabbits next thing you know you will have a few.
Good stuff!
About
© 2025 Created by John Masciale.
Powered by
You need to be a member of Minstrel Banjo to add comments!
Join Minstrel Banjo