stratognatb4 - Posted - 06/08/2012:  16:09:26

Something  just dredged up that is interesting. I don't know if this is a number 2 or no. 3. Not the garden variety flange pattern. I think maybe they only made this in the first year (?) All the parts are plated in sterling silver. The tuners are 1:2 ratio Waverlies w/ MOP buttons. These are crazy things. They are geared to wind reverse of other things. What I did was wind the strings to the outside of the posts. One of the MOP buttons is MIA. Anybody happen to have an extra one to sell?  I guess I can make one if I can find a thick enough chunk of pearl. At any rate-- its a great sounding thing and  fun to play. I'm going to NOT polish the silver. Buy it ratty-- leave it alone.

1924 BD 7	1924 BD 8	1924 BD10	1924 BD4
1924BD6	1924 BD1	1924 BD2	1924 BD3

jbalch - Posted - 06/08/2012:  16:56:53

Congratulations.  Those are great banjos. I think silver plateing would indicate #2.

Mine is a #2 (tenor) from a year later. It has unusual inlay in the fingerboard like a few #5 banjos from the period. 

I debated leaving the silver tarnished on it.  But I got tired of the dirty feel and cleaned it.  It is very heavily plated and gleems like new. 

More photos (before and after cleaning) here:  banjohangout.org/myhangout/pho...umid=3269

Check out the B&D banjos group:  banjohangout.org/group/baconandday

Edited by - jbalch on 06/08/2012 17:07:15

TB-4 Guy - Posted - 06/08/2012:  18:20:00

The Waverly tuners on the OP's B&D banjo are the same as the ones on my 1923 (1924?) Gibson TB-4. They are exellent tuners. I have the question mark after the 1924 because I thought the TB-4 was a 1923 model but Joe Spann says it's a1924 and I'll going to go with him in the future. LOL. 

 

Edited by - TB-4 Guy on 06/08/2012 18:22:34

TB-4 Rear of Peghead

jbalch - Posted - 06/08/2012:  18:30:24

Polle's database would place this at 1924.  There isa another #2 listed with an adjacent serial number: acoustudio.dk/BD_and_Bacon_database.html

I imagine that yours being a plectrum makes it relatively rare.

Edited by - jbalch on 06/08/2012 18:32:06

stratognatb4 - Posted - 06/09/2012:  06:05:15

The plating on yours is in a lot better condition. The alternative theory to cleaning things is that you can always clean something but once cleaned you cant unclean it. Sometimes you find out (too late) that what you really found to be appealing about an object is the grunge.

---

Originally posted by jbalch

Congratulations.  Those are great banjos. I think silver plateing would indicate #2.

Mine is a #2 (tenor) from a year later. It has unusual inlay in the fingerboard like a few #5 banjos from the period. 

I debated leaving the silver tarnished on it.  But I got tired of the dirty feel and cleaned it.  It is very heavily plated and gleems like new. 

More photos (before and after cleaning) here:  banjohangout.org/myhangout/pho...umid=3269

 

Check out the B&D banjos group:  banjohangout.org/group/baconandday

---

stratognatb4 - Posted - 06/09/2012:  06:08:34

They are cool tuners. I actually Like the 2:1 ratio tuner. But the backwardness aspect... I could live without.

---

Originally posted by TB-4 Guy

The Waverly tuners on the OP's B&D banjo are the same as the ones on my 1923 (1924?) Gibson TB-4. They are exellent tuners. I have the question mark after the 1924 because I thought the TB-4 was a 1923 model but Joe Spann says it's a1924 and I'll going to go with him in the future. LOL. 

 

---

stratognatb4 - Posted - 06/09/2012:  06:15:47

Do yours wind in standard direction?? the tuners on yours are mounted upside down versus the BD. Im trying to figure out... will that allow them to turn and wind like standard tuners??? It wouldnt seem to make any difference.  I cant turn mine around because this is the original mounting and it would leave exposed scars and superfluous holes.

---

Originally posted by TB-4 Guy

The Waverly tuners on the OP's B&D banjo are the same as the ones on my 1923 (1924?) Gibson TB-4. They are exellent tuners. I have the question mark after the 1924 because I thought the TB-4 was a 1923 model but Joe Spann says it's a1924 and I'll going to go with him in the future. LOL. 

 

---

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 06/09/2012:  09:12:28

Your banjo is a B&D Silver Bell No. 2 - this model/style was built in 6-7 versions 1923-30 - yours is of the 2nd version, as built appr. mid 1923 - mid 1924.

Here´s a rough overview of the development over the years of the classic SB model acoustudio.dk/BD%20Classic%20S...ment.html

Polle