Expert: Jim Ryan - 12/10/2008

Question
I have a banjo that I want to sell & am trying yto determine a good selling price.  The words "A.C. Fairbanks Makers Boston, Mass."are inscribed on a metal plate.  The serial # is 17468.  There is another metal plate which has "A.J. Polhemus" inscribed on it (I'm guessing this was a previous owner).  Any ideas?  Thank you.  From what I have read, this banjo was made in the late 1800's.

Answer
Hi Jodi,

Fairbanks made very fine banjos in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and they are indeed quite collectible.  Price will vary depending on condition and also on the amount of decoration and carving on the instrument.  For example, inlaid marquetry and mother of pearl will, if in excellent condition, add substantially to its value.  Also, 5-string banjos tend to be worth a lot more than 4 string instruments, because there are so many more 5 string players these days.  For research into the conditions of its manufacture, check out Philip Gura's excellent book: "America's Instrument", which has much information about this era of banjo making.  To get a sense of current pricing, have a look at www.bernunzio.com.  Bernunzio is the leading dealer in vintage banjos.  Jim Bollman, who owns the Music Emporium in Lexington, Massachusetts, is extremely knowledgeable about these instruments, as he is probably the foremost collector of vintage banjos in the United States.

Best regards,

Jim

Hi Jodi --  If you still have the Fairbanks banjo, I have new information from Jim Bolllman, which he sent to me the other day.  Hope this is useful for you.

Hi Jim- You received a question about Fairbanks banjo # 17468 in Dec. My files show this to be a Special No.4 model with a 10 1/2" rim. It was in the New England area many years ago. Nothing in my files about the additional name plate but I'm not sure I actually ever saw the banjo. Best, Jim Bollman