5-string banjo
Maker
A. A. Farland Company
Maker
Rettberg & Lange
Date1900 ca.
Place DistributedPlainfield, New Jersey, United States, North America
Place MadeNew York, New York, United States, North America
ModelBaby Grand
SignedGlossy white paper label on dowel stick: "Baby Grand" Price, $35.00 / A A. Farland / Manufacturer Plainfield, N. J. Round paper label affixed to inside of rim, treble side, with portrait of Alfred Farland at center, the text around edges: THE A.A. FARLAND BEVELLED-TOP WOODRIM BANJO / PATENT APPLIED FOR. / TRADE MARKMarkingsStamped on end of tailpiece (possibly later, modern): NO KNOT / PAT NOV. 19 / 1901DescriptionAlfred A. Farland (1864-1954) was a Canadian banjoist who was known for playing classical music on the banjo, part of the Banjo Mandolin Guitar Movement elevating the banjo to a parlor instrument. He endorsed S. S. Stewart banjos until Stewart's death in 1898, at which point he founded his own banjo company in Plainfield, New Jersey. This banjo was likely made for him by Rettburg & Lange, a New York manufacturer. Farland prized a mellow tone, and his wood rim banjo was designed to facilitate a darker timbre.
Neck: two-piece maple with ebony back stripe
Peghead: two-piece maple with ebony back stripe, integral with neck; thick ebony front piece inlaid with two white mother-of-pearl stars and mother-of-pearl rectangle with two half circles at ends
Fingerboard: ebony; 22 nickel-silver T-frets; single mother-of-pearl dots behind 5th, 10th, and 17th frets; double mother-of-pearl dots behind 7th and 14th frets
Heel cap: none, back of neck heel is rounded
Rim: laminated wood with bird's-eye maple veneer on outside, plain maple veneer on inside, lower edge capped with thick ebony
Head: calf skin
Bracket hooks: 20 nickel-plated steel
Shoes: 20 nickel-plated brass
Tension hoop: nickel-plated brass
Dowel stick: maple; ebony wedge at neck joint; hole trilled for attachment of resonator, no longer present
Nuts: bone
Tuners: 5 nickel-plated steel tension pegs with ivoroid heads
Bridge: Maple with ebony top
Tailpiece: nickel-plated brass No Knot, possibly later modern-made
Finish: clear lacquerDimensionsTotal 5-string banjo length: 787 mm (30-31/32”)
Vibrating string length – long strings: 566 mm (22-9/16”)
Vibrating string length – 5th string: 424 mm (16-11/16”)
Peghead length: 129 mm (5-3/32”)
Peghead maximum width: 57 mm (2-1/4”)
Total fingerboard length: 409 mm (16-3/16”)
Fingerboard length from 5th-string nut: 265 mm (10-7/16”)
Fingerboard width at top nut: 31 mm (1-7/32”)
Fingerboard width at 5th-string nut: 42 mm (1-21/32”)
Neck width at body: 49 mm (1-15/16”)
Head diameter: 235 mm (9-1/4”)
Rim depth: 45 mm (1-25/32”)ProvenanceNo known provenance.
Credit LineGift of Donna J. Curry, 2021
Object number15617
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