beezaboy - Posted - 03/30/2016:  11:05:18

A friend unearthed a new (to me) photo of Bacon's Groton Building ca 1920's.

Edit - I added another photo that came electronically in case it has better clarity.  I think its the first one below.

Edited by - beezaboy on 03/30/2016 11:14:10

Bacon Groton

Bacon Groton Building

cebracher - Posted - 03/30/2016:  11:15:11

Very cool!

NYCJazz - Posted - 03/30/2016:  13:41:14

It's a little bit shadier these days

Gordy Ohliger - Posted - 03/30/2016:  20:13:30

This is THE BEST!

 Thank You!

rudykizuty - Posted - 03/31/2016:  04:15:34

Awesome find. Such a humble looking place for having such a storied history. One would never guess this to be the birthplace of tens of thousands of the finest banjos ever produced. 

banjotrader - Posted - 03/31/2016:  05:37:31

Very nice indeed, here is a picture of it in 1937.  Obviously the upper railing/porch had been removed by then.

Edited by - banjotrader on 03/31/2016 05:38:25

banjotrader - Posted - 03/31/2016:  05:52:54

And another of that street sign (which the post still remains):

banjotrader - Posted - 03/31/2016:  09:09:59

Another little movement is that of the street sign.  Sometime between 1921 and 1937 that sign moved from the corner of the lot to the end of the walkway.  It was also changed in format.

Edited by - banjotrader on 03/31/2016 09:11:33

dculgan - Posted - 03/31/2016:  09:17:23

When I look at the picture of this building, and having visited the S.S. Stewart building on Church Street in Philadelphia, its hard to imagine the scope of the banjo production that went on there. The size of the buildings make them seem more like a showroom, or retail establishment, not factories. Dave

G Edward Porgie - Posted - 03/31/2016:  09:18:56

If Fred Bacon had tried to run any kind of commercial establishment in such a building now, he'd run afoul of zoning commisions, business licencing bureaus, OSHA, and  insurance companies, and would most likely be jailed. 

banjotrader - Posted - 03/31/2016:  10:09:30

quote:

---

Originally posted by dculgan

 

When I look at the picture of this building, and having visited the S.S. Stewart building on Church Street in Philadelphia, its hard to imagine the scope of the banjo production that went on there. The size of the buildings make them seem more like a showroom, or retail establishment, not factories. Dave

---

Not so fast... The front part of the building was their corporate office..  This was no small-time factory.  Attached is a picture of the entire factory:





Inside parts of the plant:

Edited by - banjotrader on 03/31/2016 10:11:00

NYCJazz - Posted - 04/02/2016:  10:34:27

If you take the Amtrak between New York and Boston, you can see the factory building from the New London station.



I made a ritual of holding up my banjo to the train window as I went past the factory.

Jasperdog - Posted - 04/07/2016:  10:57:44

Just broke out my grandfather's banjo that I've had since he passed away in 1987. I never actually got the chance to hear him play it, but I'm studying to be a luthier, so I was curious to it's origin and value. It's a Bacon Blue Ribbon Style A, serial# 8038. It has the typical 17 fret fingerboard. Delighted to see how old it is. I've kept it very good condition. Not that I want to sell it, but I was looking to see if anyone knows what the estimated value is - see pics.

Bacon BR in case	Bacon BR Serial# 8038	Bacon BR backside	Bacon BR Headstock
Bacon BR Fretboard	Bacon BR Pegs	Bacon BR Resonator	Bacon BR with back reoved
Bacon BR Tail Tag

banjotrader - Posted - 04/07/2016:  11:15:48

This tone ring will no doubt get a few people excited for various reasons (i.e. 8038 SN / Blue Ribbon / 1922 ).  It appears to be of Supertone/SUPER design.  It provides some insights to David Day's early involvement I believe.

esmic - Posted - 04/07/2016:  11:38:12

I own a Blue Ribbon A1 Supertone Tenor, SN 8040. Until today it was the earliest known Bacon banjo with a Silver Bell tone ring, That title now goes to your banjo.  Congratulations.

banjotrader - Posted - 04/08/2016:  01:35:52

The dowel stick inside would validate/answer many questions. Can you include additional pictures of any/all stamps found on the inside, specifically all sides of the stick?

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 04/08/2016:  05:28:06

Jason - thanks for the PM - I´ve saved your pics and put you in as the reference/reporter for this lovely banjo in my DB´s. Others will have to tell you about its present value - I don´t have a clue.

Shawn - we´re missing infos about plenty other mid/late 1922 BR´s (and examples of other models) - so there´s still a chance for you finding/owning an even earlier example with the full spun SB tone ring - LOL!

Polle

wtalley - Posted - 04/08/2016:  14:01:29

What's the purpose of the grommets in the tone ring holes?  Decoration?   I just saw a Tubaphone that had grommets in the tone ring holes, also.  Was this a David Day idea that started at Vega?

esmic - Posted - 04/08/2016:  16:35:46

Hi Bill

Blue Ribbon grommets- actually individual eyelets originally, then later as surrounds stamped into the spunover- are cosmetic, to dress up the appearance of the holes. The BR was launched as Bacon's new leading product, so no detail was overlooked.

I don't recall ever seeing eyelets on a Tubaphone. Do you have a photo?