Paramount Banjo Serial Numbers
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A Paramount Style C tenor banjo is used but over very nice condition. Most of the wear is on the fingerboard with medium fret wear up to the fifth fret.
monkeyboygl - Posted - 12/08/2012: 18:50:31
flickr.com/photos/90926336@N06/
Paramount Tenor Banjo. White maple rim and neck, pearl position marks and pearl scrolling in the headpiece. All wood parts are polished in natural color with the William Lange “Wearforever” finish. Taken into consideration, it means your Paramount Style A banjo was made after August 25, 1925 thus a 1926 date is most feasible. Lange shipped the 12,000th Paramount serial number sometime in 1929. Comparatively, he shipped only about 3,500 Paramount banjos between 1929 and 1935. Paramount Tenor Banjo. White maple rim and neck, pearl position marks and pearl scrolling in the headpiece. All wood parts are polished in natural color with the William Lange “Wearforever” finish. The dating of CE banjos is usually based, roughly, on the street address or the 'and sons' etc and despite what the 'experts' say about serial numbers, the addresses are the known facts. Reply Permalink Reply by John Cohen on June 15, 2015 at 15:11. A friend has an old Paramount Aristocrat Banjo that belonged to his father. On the web, I found a chart showing Serial Numbers for different production.
Hi everyone, I am a NEWB. Recently my father-in-law gave me a banjo to try to either refurbish/sell for him. I have tried to find info on this particular banjo, and have had some luck, but thought I would look here for some guidance as I know nothing about banjos or any other stringed instrument for that matter. I have posted a flickr page above with a handful of pics of the banjo. I know it is old, maybe 30s-40s. It is a Paramount Style A, it also says Wm L.Lange near the peghead. It is missing a few pieces I think, mainly strings, brdige, and one peg (I have it, but believe it is broken). I can't find a serial or mfg # anywhere. The head is a Jos B. Rogers Jr. It hasn't been played for decades, but appears to be a decent shape. Any help that anyone could give on identifying a year or background on this item would be wonderful. Thank you much in advance. - Geoff
Paramount Tenor Banjo Serial Numbers
beegee - Posted - 12/08/2012: 19:02:11
Looks like a nice Paramount A, circa 1926-28 or so. It likely had Paige pegs which are kinda crappy pot metal and tend to get brittle with age. If you are going to play it, you could replace the tuners with better ones. These are nice banjos and were very popular in the jazz age, or Roaring Twenties. They sell for $800-1200 or so depending on condition and location. The Paramount line included many models, A, B, C F, Leader, etc. which differed according to types of wood and trim.
monkeyboygl - Posted - 12/08/2012: 19:15:08
That is great, thank you very much for the information. I think I will take it to a local guitar shop and see if they can replace the tuners, maybe put some strings and a bridge on it. He will be happy to know that it is so valuable, he may just want to keep it. Do you think the head would need to be replaced due to its age?
beegee - Posted - 12/08/2012: 20:13:44
If the head is not torn or rotten, it should be ok.
NYCJazz - Posted - 12/09/2012: 09:24:15
I wouldn't replace the tuners if I could help it.. Try to find a replacement Page tuner.. they are out there.
Replacing with modern tuners will require some substantial reaming of the hole, which may cut into the inlay.
Here's a set of earlier Page tuners on ebay.. They're not exactly the same as yours, but they wouldn't require reaming..
ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Banjo-Tun..320013%26
I've owned several Paramount tenors, and the Style A was easily my favorite!
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monkeyboygl - Posted - 12/11/2012: 16:51:26
Ah shoot! I didn't get those pegs in time off ebay. If anyone sees any online (im looking too! - but again, im no expert in banjos) please let me know! I want to get it back in playing shape and that peg seems to be the only hangup! Thanks in advance! - Gepff
beegee - Posted - 12/11/2012: 21:23:40
Check Bill Camp banjos
NYCJazz - Posted - 12/11/2012: 21:52:35
Wow those went cheap.
I'd put up a listing and keep checking the listings here at BHO.
You might get lucky & find someone who replaced originals! You only need one
Years ago, when one of my Pages broke, I took a modern tuner and sawed off the outside threaded tube around the tuner shaft.
I made a bracket to hold it in place from the back out of sheet aluminum. It wasn't pretty, but it didn't alter the banjo.
monkeyboygl - Posted - 12/14/2012: 07:05:01
I contacted Bill Camp banjos, they have a set of 4 that would work, however they are $395! Instead of sinking that kind of money into the instrument I will probably just sell it on ebay as is. :-( What do you think would be an appropriate starting bid/minimum in the condition it is in now? it is missing strings, bridge, and the one tuner.. otherwise I've had two guitar shops look at it and state that it is in very good condition for its age. thank again, you guys have been very helpful!
beegee - Posted - 12/14/2012: 07:29:12
If you hang on to it, the needed parts will eventually appear on ebay. Strings and a bridge are no big deal, less than $20. You can probably buy one orphan tuner cheap. I think it would be more fun to keep it.
mikeyes - Posted - 12/14/2012: 07:43:20
Vin Mondello (4stringbanjos.com) might have a replacement Page tuner.
Since your banjo is the most common of the lettered Paramounts, it will not hurt the value if you put in a set of small shaft tuners. Bob Smakula of smakula.comhas them and if you send the neck he will probably put them on for a reasonable fee. He has some Page tuners available too.
Paramount A banjos are very popular with Irish Tenor banjo players.
Mike Keyes
Edited by - mikeyes on 12/14/2012 07:46:42
monkeyboygl - Posted - 03/19/2013: 12:23:02
Still trying to find that elusive tuner!
wuzapicker - Posted - 03/19/2013: 12:50:16
quote:
Originally posted by monkeyboygl
flickr.com/photos/90926336@N06/
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Hi everyone, I am a NEWB. Recently my father-in-law gave me a banjo to try to either refurbish/sell for him. I have tried to find info on this particular banjo, and have had some luck, but thought I would look here for some guidance as I know nothing about banjos or any other stringed instrument for that matter. I have posted a flickr page above with a handful of pics of the banjo. I know it is old, maybe 30s-40s. It is a Paramount Style A, it also says Wm L.Lange near the peghead. It is missing a few pieces I think, mainly strings, brdige, and one peg (I have it, but believe it is broken). I can't find a serial or mfg # anywhere. The head is a Jos B. Rogers Jr. It hasn't been played for decades, but appears to be a decent shape. Any help that anyone could give on identifying a year or background on this item would be wonderful. Thank you much in advance. - Geoff
Hi Geoff,
Judging from the photos and the parts visible I'd place your Paramount Style A as being made between 1925 and 1927. I can can nail it down more specifically if you have the serial number.
Michael
monkeyboygl - Posted - 03/19/2013: 12:55:34
I'll look again tonight for the serial #, however, I think I've figured out all I need. I just need to find a tuner that will fit (hopefully original to avoid reaming) so I can get it back in playing shape. I'll be placing a 'want-ad' on this website here in a bit.
NYCJazz - Posted - 03/19/2013: 21:09:06
ebay.com/itm/321085393907?ssPa..423.l2649
I hope you were the high bidder on this auction
Paramount Banjo Serial Numbers
monkeyboygl - Posted - 03/20/2013: 03:50:23
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wuzapicker - Posted - 03/20/2013: 07:00:25
quote:
Originally posted by monkeyboygl
I'll look again tonight for the serial #, however, I think I've figured out all I need. I just need to find a tuner that will fit (hopefully original to avoid reaming) so I can get it back in playing shape. I'll be placing a 'want-ad' on this website here in a bit.
Thanks!
The reason I asked for the serial number of your Paramount Style A banjo is because I am building what I hope shall be the definitive catalog of Paramount banjo serial numbers. This is in order to provide a better means of dating and understanding Lange's Paramount line. After many years of late the database is well developed, but still has holes. Eventually, I intend to publish the listing eventually with photos and general information to make it useful to those who share an interest in these fine banjos.
Any help is appreciated.
Michael
monkeyboygl - Posted - 03/22/2013: 13:22:14
I think I located the serial #. It is: 1550826. Does that look right?
wuzapicker - Posted - 03/22/2013: 14:55:54
Thanks, but unless someone got overly exuberant with the stamp set it has too many digits. Highest Paramount serials are in the 15,000's for the mid 1930's. Paramount banjos have the serial number stamped on the dowel stick near the rim at the neck brace and inside the rim at the bottom below the tailpiece and dowel stick. Both can be easily seen with the resonator removed. Rarely the serial number is also written in pencil inside the resonator near the neck slot. The numbers should match, but sometimes parts were switched. If the two disagree please tell me both numbers and I'll give you both dates.
The Paramount patent number 1348652 should be stamped vertically inside the rim near the label.
Michael
monkeyboygl - Posted - 03/22/2013: 15:33:40
Ahh yes. I found it. It is : 6898. Same# pressed into the dowel.
monkeyboygl - Posted - 03/22/2013: 15:35:57
The patent# is 1550826
monkeyboygl - Posted - 03/22/2013: 15:41:30
The patent# is 1550826
wuzapicker - Posted - 03/22/2013: 16:20:42
Paramount number 6898 is 1926 number.
I should have recognized the patent number. Lange's Paramount resonator patent 1,550,826 was filed Dec. 14, 1921. but was not awarded until Aug. 25, 1925. Taken into consideration, it means your Paramount Style A banjo was made after August 25, 1925 thus a 1926 date is most feasible. Lange shipped the 12,000th Paramount serial number sometime in 1929. Comparatively, he shipped only about 3,500 Paramount banjos between 1929 and 1935.
Thanks for the help!
Michael
monkeyboygl - Posted - 03/22/2013: 16:27:23
Interesting..
monkeyboygl - Posted - 03/22/2013: 16:44:23
I just put it up for sale on the classifieds. I'm struggling with whether to refurbish it of just sell it!
monkeyboygl - Posted - 04/12/2013: 07:09:23
Thanks for all the help, I finally sold the banjo today to a gentleman from Ireland! This website has been key in assisting me, everyone take care!