Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi all
I'm a new forum member, I write from Italy so please excuse me for my poor english. Also, I did not find a banjo section, I don't know if this post is OT here.

Recently I acquired a 5 string open back banjo that should be built by Alfred Weaver in the period ranging from 1893-1896 (in the bacward there's a writing that says "A. Weaver maker - Essex & Cammeyer - 59 Piccadilly - London W".

Currently the banjo needs following parts:
- the tailpiece (i suppose it was ebony?)
- 3 tuner knobs (one is 5th string's tuner knob)
- many frets (I suppose it's better to change them all)
- the bridge
- the nut
- many bracket hooks (about 7)

Initially I would like to restore it using modern parts(e.g. the pegs) but now I think to use "original-like" parts.

Could you suggest me the best way to restore it? I.E.:
- does it exist some shop where to buy ancient parts?
- what kind of parts should I look for to replace tailpiece, bridge, nut? (I don't have the original ones)
- is there some special part I should use for the bracket hooks and for the fret wire? I think these could be replace with the modern ones with no problems, isn't it?

Thank you in advance

First of all welcome to the fray , we are glad to have you here . And yes you can post about Banjo's anywhere you like .

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Welcome to the forum. Your English is very good and quite easy to understand. I wish my Italian was as good. I expect there are several good banjo people here who will help you.

Here is another excellent resource for banjo information: www.banjohangout.com

You will find many banjo collectors, builders and restorers there, and I imagine you will find someone there who can post photos of a very similar or identical banjo so you can see the original parts. Members of that forum can also direct you to sources of original parts for many old banjos. Modern, traditionally-styled parts are available from many resources. One very good source of supply is: www.stew-mac.com

Regarding your specific questions, it is difficult to advise without seeing pictures. However, I imagine you will replace all of the frets. Fret wire is available in many, many styles and sizes and you will find something very close to authentic fret wire for your project. If you cannot find perfectly matched bracket hooks and nuts, you have two options. You can replace the missing ones with hooks and nuts a little different in style, or you can replace all the hooks and nuts with a matched set. With this second option, you can save your original hooks until you find others that match perfectly. You might have a third option, as well. There are banjo specialists who can fabricate perfect replicas of older parts, but this is a more expensive option.

One advantage to rebuilding a banjo is that many of the parts fasten with bolts, so many of your repairs or additions would be reversible. By that, I mean that you can often use parts that are easy to acquire now and exchange them later for authentic parts that you acquire in the future.

Good luck with your restoration and please post pictures here as your work progresses and again when you are finished.

Patrick

Hi,

The tailpiece could have originally been ebony, or it could have been a cast brass tailpiece--a very common feature of British banjos.

As for parts, check with Bernunzio http://www.bernunzio.com or Smakula Fretted Instruments http://www.smakula.com Both of these guys tend to have old banjo hardware for sale.

Dave

Thanks to all for the suggestions.
I attach some pictures of the banjo to let you have a better view of its conditions.
Bye