Brand: Bacon and Day
Instrument Categories: Banjos, SOLD
Banjos in the USA predate the nation – originally an African instrument, the design was brought with slaves to the colonies. By the 1830’s, the instrument had crossed over to the white population and during the American Civil War, the original ‘clawhammer’ style of playing started to be supplanted by fingerpicking.
Around 1906, Frederick Bacon, a prominent banjo player, started the Bacon Manufacturing Company to produce banjos – though for the first while other companies actually built them. By 1920, the Bacon company had taken space in Groton, Connecticut and was actively building banjos of their own design. In 1922, David L. Day joined the company as a designer; while the banjos produced were then called Bacon and Day, the company name didn’t change.
One of the most well known of the Bacon Banjo Company and Day instruments was the Bacon and Day Silver Bell. These banjos are very elaborate, carved, engraved and plated, and have a full, rich tone with lots of power.
This Bacon and Day Silver Bell Style No. 4 tenor banjo from 1927 is a good example of the Bacon and Day production and decoration. It has been re-plated and re-finished, so it’s not entirely original.
One of the unusual points on this banjo is the intact and functional knee-lever mute. When engaged, the lever pushes a pad against the bottom of the bridge, inside the pot, to cut the volume. On many examples, this mechanism has broken or been removed.
Serial Number: 22885, built during 1927 by the Fred Bacon Manufacturing Company in Groton, Connecticut.
1960’s Hard shell case included.
Status: SOLD
- Model: Silver Bell
- Year: 1927
- Finish Gloss
- Class: Vintage
- Serial Number: 22885
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Good
- Date Posted: 02/03/2015
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Required CITES documentation
