Supertone New Professional 5 String Banjo, most likely made by Rettberg and Lange , c. 1915
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Item # 6349
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Supertone New Professional Model 5 String Banjo, most likely made by Rettberg and Lange, c. 1915, probably New York City, serial # 213, natural finish, spunover rim, maple neck with ebonized fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This interesting large-rim 1910's banjo was sold by Sears, Roebuck & Co. and is most likely the produce of New York's Rettberg & Lange organization, famous for the Orpheum and Paramount brands. It is built well, if certainly to a price (like all Sears product!) with a fairly thin 19th century style spunover rim and a maple neck with medium-fancy pearl inlay. This is a rather large banjo even for the time, with an oversize 12" rim and extra-long 28 1/2" scale neck-a relative of Rettberg & Lange's similarly grand Orpheum Brass band models from the same period. With its large rim but simple spunover (metal sheathing over wood) construction this banjo has an unusually deep and sweet tone and at least from a pleyer's perspective is one of the more unique early 20th century banjos we have recently had.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 12 1/8 in. (30.8 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 28 1/2 in. (724 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.). This banjo has wear general overall, most notably small nicks and dings to the back of the neck- it looks like a vintage capo was used at several positions but the wear is not too heavy and the original finish mostly intact. The dowel stick is the correct style (and unmarked) but we believe it to be an older replacement. The rim plating is moderately worn with some corroded spots to the sides and some of the hooks show rust spots but much of it is substantially intact. All hardware appears original except the fifth string peg is newer; the friction tuners are original and the tailpiece is a nice original No-Knot. The elegant original hooks and nuts are original except for one nut . Despite its Sears & Roebuck origins this is a fairly classy old banjo, with pearl inlay and good quality woods. This is set up with an old skin head that has some substantial staining and a newer bridge and plays and sounds very good. With its extra-long scale this banjo would be very suited to vairious drop-tuned frailing applications. Overall Very Good + Condition.
This interesting large-rim 1910's banjo was sold by Sears, Roebuck & Co. and is most likely the produce of New York's Rettberg & Lange organization, famous for the Orpheum and Paramount brands. It is built well, if certainly to a price (like all Sears product!) with a fairly thin 19th century style spunover rim and a maple neck with medium-fancy pearl inlay. This is a rather large banjo even for the time, with an oversize 12" rim and extra-long 28 1/2" scale neck-a relative of Rettberg & Lange's similarly grand Orpheum Brass band models from the same period. With its large rim but simple spunover (metal sheathing over wood) construction this banjo has an unusually deep and sweet tone and at least from a pleyer's perspective is one of the more unique early 20th century banjos we have recently had.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 12 1/8 in. (30.8 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 28 1/2 in. (724 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.). This banjo has wear general overall, most notably small nicks and dings to the back of the neck- it looks like a vintage capo was used at several positions but the wear is not too heavy and the original finish mostly intact. The dowel stick is the correct style (and unmarked) but we believe it to be an older replacement. The rim plating is moderately worn with some corroded spots to the sides and some of the hooks show rust spots but much of it is substantially intact. All hardware appears original except the fifth string peg is newer; the friction tuners are original and the tailpiece is a nice original No-Knot. The elegant original hooks and nuts are original except for one nut . Despite its Sears & Roebuck origins this is a fairly classy old banjo, with pearl inlay and good quality woods. This is set up with an old skin head that has some substantial staining and a newer bridge and plays and sounds very good. With its extra-long scale this banjo would be very suited to vairious drop-tuned frailing applications. Overall Very Good + Condition.