Tenor resonator banjo
Maker
Gibson, Inc.
Maker
Gibson
Date1928
Place MadeKalamazoo, Michigan, United States, North America
ModelFlorentine
Serial No.8176-4 (factory order number)
SignedInlaid into peghead veneer in red rhinestones, in cursive text: GibsonGold-painted oval decal with black text on inside of rim (from photograph): GIBSON MASTERTONE / GUARANTEE / ANY DEFECT IN MATERIAL OR / WORKMANSHIP, EXCEPT HEADS, STRINGS / AND PEGS, WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF / CHARGE OR REPLACED WITH ANOTHER OF / SAME STYLE OR VALUE, IF RETURNED / TO OUR FACTORY CHARGES PREPAID. / ________ / GIBSON INC. / KALAMAZOO, MICH.
MarkingsStamped into inner wall of rim: 8761-4
In brown paint near resonator wall: 8761-4
In white grease pencil on resonator inside-back: 8761-4
Engraved into lower end of tailpiece cover: Florentine
Stamped into inner rim wall, according to previous examination: PAT. APPLD. FOR
Stamped into tuners: [image of Saturn] · Planet · [image of Saturn] · PAT. · PEND.
Stamped onto synth-skin head, in black: [inside outline of 4-pointed crown] REMO / WEATHER KING / __BANJO__ / MADE IN U.S.A.
DescriptionGibson's high-end Florentine banjo, introduced in 1927, epitomizes the flamboyant aesthetic of the jazz age. Advertised as "The World's Finest, Most Luxurious Banjo," the Florentine featured a fancifully carved, gilded, and painted coat-of-arms on the resonator, reflecting the later Renaissance Revival style that could also be found on homes and decorative arts of the period.
Gibson's Florentine model was originally sold as a four-string, tenor banjo. The neck and peghead have pearloid veneer, rhinestone ornamentation, and painted scenes of Venice (not Florence!).
The pearloid-covered peghead features a white, gold, red, and green rhinestone "ice cream cone" decoration that would catch light on stage. Marketed to those who felt that they needed the very best, whether professional entertainers or wealthy, aspiring amateurs, Gibson's catalog reported that "theatre audiences marvel at the sparkling beauty; recording companies are delighted with the tone and radio fans are amazed at the clarity and brilliance of the banjo as they tune in."
The fretboard, covered with pearloid veneer, has nineteen frets and features nine Venetian (not Florentine) scenes (starting immediately below the nut, in descending order):
Santa Maria della Salute Church
St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) and Campanile
Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto)
San Giorgio Maggiore Church and Campanile, close-up
Grand Canal, Santa Maria della Salute Church, and Gondola
Island of San Giorgio Maggiore
Shoreline and Gondola near St. Mark's Square
Church, Campanile, and Buildings on Canal
Sailboat in front of Churches and Buildings on Canal
Neck: mahogany; carving on heel of pillar with ribbon, which is painted red, white, and blue
Peghead: mahogany with 2-ply ebony/pearloid veneer, integral with neck; “ice cream cone” design on face in orange, white, red, and green rhinestones; face outlined in white rhinestones; decoratively-cut mother-of-pearl plate screwed onto face; decorative carvings around edge painted gold; carving on back of crown and cloth painted red, white, gold, and blue
Fingerboard: pearloid bound in ivoroid and gold sparkle strips; 19 nickel-silver bar frets; scenes of Venice drawn in black ink and painted red and blue behind 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 15th, 17th, and 19th frets [9 distinct scenes]; imitation tortoiseshell celluloid side dots inlaid in ivoroid behind 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 15th, and 17th frets
Heel cap: pearloid over black celluloid veneer
Head: synth-skin [Weather King]
Tone ring: gold-plated brass, arched
Rim: half-spun wood with dark-brown stained maple veneer with gold-plated brass overlay decorated with floral engravings; bound on outer edge with ivory-celluloid and gold-sparkle veneer strips; black celluloid veneer on outer edge
Bracket hooks: 24 gold-plated brass
Shoes: 24 gold-plated brass
Tension hoop: gold-plated brass with decorative floral engravings
Armrest: gold-plated brass with decorative ribbon engravings; “Tone-Master”
Resonator: walnut veneer on inside and outside; brown-stained maple rim; gold-plated brass flange with decorative floral engravings; decorative carvings painted red, blue, white, and gold; bound at top and bottom edges in ivoroid and gold sparkle strips; stylized coat-of-arms with a crown carved into back and painted red, blue, gold, ivory, and black
Dowel stick: 2 gold-plated brass
Nut: bone
Tuners: 4 gold-plated brass tension tuners with mother-of-pearl heads
Tailpiece: gold-plated brass with decorative floral engravings
Finish: walnut satin lacquer
DimensionsOverall length (with conversion neck:) 975 mm (38-3/8 in)
Vibrating String Length (with conversion neck:) 667 mm (26-1/4 in)
Total instrument length: 866 mm (34-3/32”)
Vibrating string length: 584 mm (23”)
Fingerboard length: 396 mm (15-19/32”)
Fingerboard width at nut: 29 mm (1-1/8”)
Fingerboard width at body: 40 mm (1-9/16”)
Synth-skin head diameter: 279 mm (10-31/32”)
Resonator diameter: 350 mm (13-25/32”)
Rim and resonator depth: 93 mm (3-21/32”)
ProvenancePurchased in 1997 from Gruhn Guitars, Nashville, Tennessee.
Published ReferencesLarson, André P. “Tenor Banjo by Gibson, Inc., Kalamazoo, Michigan, 1928,” The South Dakota Musician, Vol. 33, No. 2 (Winter 1999), front cover and page 20.
Credit LineBoard of Trustees, 1997
Object number06072
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