Tenor resonator banjo
Maker
Harmony Company
Date1930-1935 ca.
Place MadeChicago, Illinois, United States, North America
ModelVagabond No. H-8737 1/2 Tenor Banjo
Serial No.none
SignedYellow-and-green decal near center of calf-skin head: The Vagabo[nd]MarkingsWritten in black pencil above bridge under strings: [c] g D A
DescriptionNeck: birch with dark-brown lacquer
Peghead: birch with dark-brown lacquer; sunburst pattern
Fingerboard: dark-stained maple; 19 nickel-plated brass T-frets; mother-of-pearl single dots inlaid behind 5th, 7th, 10th, and 12th frets
Heel cap: none
Head: calf skin; decal below bridge: scene of European peasant girl and boy in a meadow with flowering trees on the right
Tone ring: not visible
Rim: very-dark-stained maple
Bracket hooks: 16 nickel-plated steel
Shoes: 16 nickel-plated brass
Tension hoop: nickel-plated steel
Dowel stick: not visible
Resonator: maple with very-dark-brown lacquer; sunburst pattern on back; painted black around upper circumference; black celluloid binding with ivory celluloid strip trim around lower circumference; secured to rim with nickel-plated brass bolt in center of back
Nut: bone
Tuners: 4 nickel-plated brass tension pegs with ivory celluloid heads
Tailpiece: later nickel-plated steel; mandolin tailpiece modified for banjo
Finish: very dark brown lacquer
DimensionsTotal instrument length: 852 mm (33-17/32”)
Vibrating string length: 573 mm (22-9/16”)
Fingerboard length: 399 mm (15-23/32”)
Fingerboard width at nut: 30 mm (1-3/16”)
Fingerboard width at body: 37 mm (1-15/32”)
Head diameter: 279 mm (10-31/32”)
Resonator diameter: 328 mm (12-29/32”)
Rim and resonator depth: 90 mm (3-17/32”)
ProvenanceArne B. Larson Collection, Vermillion, South Dakota, 1979.
Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979
Object number00607
On View
Not on view
1900 ca.
