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country frank - Posted - 04/17/2013: 04:24:49
Found this and looks interesting to the point of being slightly odd. I have no interest in B&Ds especially so prolly wont be buying, for those of you that do;
ebay.co.uk/itm/Bacon-Banjo-que...5b6492dc2
Edited by - country frank on 04/17/2013 04:29:37
Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 04/17/2013: 05:06:28
Strange - I´m regarded the world leading expert regarding B&D banjos - I do spend many hours per day answering questions and requests from all over the world - and I keep both the published general database - acoustudio.dk/BD_and_Bacon_database.html - and a very extended DB and picture archive for my own research.
I do all of this for free - I do certainly not hope, that someone is now trying to capitalize some of this.
I have absolutely no idea, what this eBay auction is about - or who is behind it.
Strange!
Polle
Edited by - Polle Flaunoe on 04/17/2013 05:09:55
country frank - Posted - 04/17/2013: 05:09:47
Polle, exactly why i thought i'd post it, seemed strange to me to and i'm not quite sure 'how' someone would try and make a few $$ out of it but hey, there you go!!
Hans Dengler - Posted - 04/17/2013: 06:12:50
Hi,
I bought it some mounth ago. It´s from the guy, who wants far to much money for his Montana-Banjo on ebay. It is not a "must have".
Hans
Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 04/17/2013: 08:59:03
Hans,
Will it be possible for you to mail me a scan of one of the pages? I would like to see the details or "nature" of this Q/A myself.
BTW - if you´ll want some infos, help etc. regarding any Bacon/B&D - feel free contacting me via PM. My address is polle@acoustudio.dk - or just go to my BHO profile.
Regards
Polle
Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 04/17/2013: 09:16:26
Hans,
Your name seems somehow familiar to me - have we met or written together in the past?
I do know of some banjo players and jazz musicians in Southern Germany - maybe Achim and/or Guenter are mutual friends?
I have noticed from your BHO profile, that you do own a Montana #7 NPU - if possible, I´ll like to see some pics of this beauty.
BTW - I´m for now playing with a great sax player from Hamburg - my German speaking is now almost back on track due to this - LOL!
Polle
rudykizuty - Posted - 04/17/2013: 15:08:59
Okay, here's what I believe to be the deal.
The seller is also selling this banjo.....
ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.ht...26_rdc%3D1">ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.ht...26_rdc%3D1" target="_blank">ebay.co.uk/itm/230396343827?ru...6_rdc%3D1
As you can see from the photos and his opinion on it's originality, he probably got fed up with all of the questions and (I presume negative) comments regarding the (lack of) originality of the banjo he has for sale at the (ridiculous) price for which he has it listed. So....if you have any questions about it, you spend $5.00 to get a prepared reply to all of your potential questions.
The banjo and his Q&A sheet have been on eBay FOREVER. BIG SURPRISE, eh? 
Edited by - rudykizuty on 04/17/2013 15:11:27
Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 04/18/2013: 00:14:51
Anthony,
Thanks for clearing up this "issue".
Polle
country frank - Posted - 04/18/2013: 01:33:30
very interesting indeed.......
Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 04/19/2013: 00:32:16
Guys,
Carl Baron has mailed me his correspondences with the owner. Here´s what I wrote to Carl this morning:
I have studied the pics of this banjo several times over the years - it´s easy to tell, that it´s a hybrid – and that someone had great fun putting it together.
Here´s my opinion about its parts and origins.
The pot and resonator assembly comes from a 50s/60s Gretsch built Senorita and the neck from a B&D Sultana Silver Bell (ab 1929). The engraved peghead Pyralin cover and backstrapping plus the Pyralin heel cap have been replaced (as indicated by the owner). The original engraved parts of the Pyralin fretboard cover have been cut off and replaced with veneer. The original or replica MOP 10s/20s inlays have been added – btw. absolutely not with the same precision as found on original Bacon/B&D builds.
The metal tag on the resonator comes from a 20s Silver Bell – the metal tag on the peghead front from an early/mid 20s The Bacon example – a rare, yet rather simple open-back tenor.
Polle
country frank - Posted - 04/19/2013: 03:09:00
Very good work Polle.
I wonder if he 'hangs out'.....
Edited by - country frank on 04/19/2013 03:09:22
Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 04/19/2013: 04:22:31
- and I´ve later today written the owner as following - maybe at last this ridiculous auction will disappear from eBay - MAYBE - LOL!
Hi Jerry,
I have over the years several times studied your banjo at the eBay auction – often smiling a little at your description.
Yesterday someone sent me a link to your connected Q/A auction – plus I got a copy of your correspondance with one of the “experts”.
I take, that now is the time for you to get a reply from me – the world leading Bacon/B&D expert. I´m on a daily basis helping a lot of owners, music stores, museums, collectors etc. all over the world with infos about their beloved banjos – and all are using my general database for dating these - acoustudio.dk/BD_and_Bacon_database.html. I do also keep a very extended database and picture archive for my own research.
Do forget all about your own knowledge and research – plus statements from various “experts” - here´s the correct description – that you can´t get anywhere else:
It´s easy to tell, that your banjo is a hybrid – and that someone did have great fun “building”/putting it together from many different parts – most of these original Gretsch/Bacon parts from 4-5 decades.
The complete pot and resonator assembly comes from a 50s/60s Gretsch built Senorita.
The neck comes from a B&D Sultana Silver Bell (ab 1929).
The original engraved/painted peghead Pyralin cover and backstrapping plus the heel cap on this neck have been replaced (as also indicated by you).
The original engraved/painted parts of the Pyralin fretboard cover have been cut off and replaced with veneer.
The original or replica MOP 10s/20s inlays at the fretboard have then been added – btw. absolutely not with the same precision as found on original Bacon/B&D builds.
The metal tag on the resonator comes from a 20s Silver Bell.
The metal tag on the peghead front comes from an early/mid 20s The Bacon example – a rare, yet rather simple open-back tenor.
The tailpiece is an after-market postwar replacement.
Feel free trusting me or not – I don´t care – but this is the true description.
BTW – by using a large magnet from a loudspeaker you´ll most likely be able detecting the rectangular reinforcement bar of tool steel inside the neck – a feature used for all Silver Bell and Special models/versions ab 1927.
Regards
Polle Flaunoe
Polle
Edited by - Polle Flaunoe on 04/19/2013 04:27:37
country frank - Posted - 04/19/2013: 04:30:46
Polle, you are one cool cucumber for sure
Edited by - country frank on 04/19/2013 04:31:30
