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TriMD180 - Posted - 09/13/2021: 13:42:01
I recently acquired a wonderful old 1891 patent Lion banjo with an 11 3/4 inch skin head that sounds amazing. Now I’m familiar with the old Signature Rodgers head but this one has a different print design from Roger’s tannery. In addition it has in hand written letters MB Park 1896… any thoughts? It looks practically brand new.
The Old Timer - Posted - 09/13/2021: 14:04:24
Rogers made a whole series of head sub-brands. What I've read was each different brand denoted a different "quality" of calf skin. The three stars Rogers was the top. I've seen "SOO" before. The initials and 1896 are certainly thought provoking. Look at that date with a magnifier and see if was written with a ball point pen, that would suggest it wasn't written in 1896! Now if it's fountain pen ink, maybe it is that old.
Rogers head experts will know if the SOO brand was sold in 1896.
Please show photos of the banjo too.
tdennis - Posted - 09/13/2021: 14:10:09
There is no telling what skin head is original. After all, the same stamped head could have been replaced within the same era. Skin heads can last for many decades, or they can break within months & be replaced. ( always be thankful for a good old skin head )
I believe Soo brand was at the budget level of Rogers heads.
Edited by - tdennis on 09/13/2021 14:17:45
hbick2 - Posted - 09/13/2021: 14:14:00
Here is a list of Rogers heads from 1938:
jbalch - Posted - 09/13/2021: 14:17:10
Rogers began drum head production on 1849. They continued into the 1950s or 60s (I'm not sure the exact date). rogersdrumsusa.com/history/
I've seen that logo before on Jazz era instruments (1930s-40s?). It doesn't look so old to me. Rogers SOO head
Nor does the skin itself. Most of the very old hides I've seen are significantly discolored. (Like the one below found on an 1881 patent H.C. Dobson)
I expect it is a replacement head (which is to be expected on a banjo of that age).
Edited by - jbalch on 09/13/2021 14:20:34
TriMD180 - Posted - 09/13/2021: 14:30:04
quote:
Originally posted by The Old Timer
Rogers made a whole series of head sub-brands. What I've read was each different brand denoted a different "quality" of calf skin. The three stars Rogers was the top. I've seen "SOO" before. The initials and 1896 are certainly thought provoking. Look at that date with a magnifier and see if was written with a ball point pen, that would suggest it wasn't written in 1896! Now if it's fountain pen ink, maybe it is that old.
Rogers head experts will know if the SOO brand was sold in 1896.
Please show photos of the banjo too.
Thanks for the info! Here are some shots of the Lion banjo.
The Old Timer - Posted - 09/13/2021: 14:54:24
Wow! Unusual pot design!
TriMD180 - Posted - 09/13/2021: 15:16:28
quote:
Originally posted by The Old Timer
Wow! Unusual pot design!
Yes, one of the few of that time that allowed you to make adjustments to the string height - neck angle... so far I haven't had to do that on either of my lions. The scalloped fretboard makes it a joy to play! It just glides!
davidppp - Posted - 09/13/2021: 15:26:53
"...sounds amazing." -- In current times, Tom Nechville is the only large producer I know of who makes sturdy enough rims that they don't need a dowel stick or co-rods. They also allow easy adjustment of the neck angle. They've got their own sound, too -- but it's hard to put a finger on what exactly that is.
TriMD180 - Posted - 09/13/2021: 15:50:16
quote:
Originally posted by jbalch
Rogers began drum head production on 1849. They continued into the 1950s or 60s (I'm not sure the exact date). rogersdrumsusa.com/history/
I've seen that logo before on Jazz era instruments (1930s-40s?). It doesn't look so old to me. Rogers SOO head
Nor does the skin itself. Most of the very old hides I've seen are significantly discolored. (Like the one below found on an 1881 patent H.C. Dobson)
I expect it is a replacement head (which is to be expected on a banjo of that age).
I agree! It doesn't look old enough, but I was hoping someone here knew when they used that style of stamp. I saw a 1920- 30 tenor with a SOO head but they style of stamp was different.
tdennis - Posted - 09/13/2021: 16:01:11
Soo brand is not a common find because most musicians chose the top of the line heads. I've noticed over the years within the banjo & drum world that most musicians actually chose the highest quality skin heads.
Edited by - tdennis on 09/13/2021 16:01:46
rmcdow - Posted - 09/13/2021: 16:11:19
I used to use fountain pens and quill pens, and it would be almost impossible to get lines that even in width on a hide head. If nothing else, there are no bleeds from the edges, which happens with fountain pens even on paper because of the slight scratching of the paper by the quill or fountain pens. I believe was put on with a Sharpie. Maybe it was honoring the person who originally had the banjo.
TriMD180 - Posted - 09/13/2021: 19:21:22
quote:
Originally posted by davidppp
"...sounds amazing." -- In current times, Tom Nechville is the only large producer I know of who makes sturdy enough rims that they don't need a dowel stick or co-rods. They also allow easy adjustment of the neck angle. They've got their own sound, too -- but it's hard to put a finger on what exactly that is.
There are actually two rims together and hollow in the middle to produce a type of sound chamber and also hides the nuts that hold the shoes... makes it look very clean. It was a banjo ahead of it's time that unfortunately started its business at the beginning of a big recession.
kyleb - Posted - 09/14/2021: 06:32:17
That looks more like a sharpie than old fountain head or quil writing, plus the ink from that period had metals in it that turned brown over time, that looks jet black. It could be the old original head, but I'm guessing that is some later persons attempt to date the banjo rather than the banjo head.
