S. S. Stewart Special Thoroughbred 5 String Banjo (1898)
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S. S. Stewart Special Thoroughbred Model 5 String Banjo (1898), made in Philadelphia, PA, serial # 19771, natural varnish finish, spunover rim, cherrywood neck with ebony fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This is an S.S. Stewart banjo marked "Special Thoroughbred" made around 1897-8, not long before the founder's death in April '98. At the time the Philadelphia company was, by their own account at least, the world's greatest banjo maker, although both Fairbanks and Cole would have begged to differ!
The Special Thoroughbred was a fairly unique model built with higher grade materials but usually devoid of the fancy fingerboard inlay used by most makers in this era. It was endorsed in 1896 by the virtuoso Alfred A. Farland, who was so full of ideas about how the banjo should be made he would shortly launch his own signature instrument line. He wanted a clean playing surface for his elaborate technique, and found the usual profusion of pearl in the better instruments to be an impediment. The "Special Thoroughbred" therefore has only tiny diamond inlay, leaving mostly unbroken ebony for the fingers to dance on.
The other features are fairly high end. This example is built around a 10 3/4" spunover 28 bracket rim with a 26 1/2" scale neck with extra laminations under the fingerboard and headstock face. A lovely dense floral pattern pearl and wire inlay decorates the headstock while the heel is elaborately carved in a typical Stewart floral motif. The dowel stick carries an inlayed celluloid "S.S. Stewart, Phil'a PA" logo tag and an impressed "SSS" headstock-shaped logo. An ivoroid "Special Thoroughbred" tag is pinned inside the lower rim. The tailpiece is a period "Elite", the tuners are standard period friction pegs with ivoroid buttons. Stewart's patented turnbuckle neck brace is intact and working; this was one of the earliest such systems.
This model listed at $40 in 1896, a high/midline price for Stewart and a not inconsiderable sum of money even in the Gilded Age. Stewart himself was never at a loss promoting his wares; the Special Thoroughbred was described as "made of the choicest selected material, and possesses the quality of musical tone so desirable in a concert banjo". He added it was "made for BANJO PLAYERS exclusively and not novices". For a time the Thoroughbred models were not sold in music stores, but had to be special ordered directly from Stewart's Philadelphia factory, which explains why many have variable features.
The banjo shows some light wear and tear but remains a nicely original survivor of the first golden era of the 5-string banjo, a true playable antique and a lovely example of S.S. Stewart's work.
Overall length is 35 1/4 in. (89.5 cm.), 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm.) diameter head, and 2 3/4 in. (7 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 26 1/2 in. (673 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This banjo remains in nicely original condition showing fairly light wear typical for its age, now approaching 130 years old! The finish on the neck is relatively clean with a couple of wear spots to the wood in the lower positions. There are some minor dings and dents but no heavy capo marks. The fingerboard and frets show only minor wear.
There is some loss and corrosion to the outer plated rim surface, and a lot of hook wear to the top rim of the hoop from multiple re-headings. The hook and nut set is completely original with general plating loss mostly to the tops of the hooks but less corrosion than many.
All other hardware is original or at least period; the Elite tailpiece is common to the era but not the standard Stewart factory fitting. The neck brace and friction tuners are original. The dowel has a patched hole (under the brace) and there are some tiny patched screw holes in the inside rim from a Farland mute once mounted and long ago removed. Inside the rim is the name of "H G Malloy" and a Philadelphia address written in old fashioned ink; perhaps this player bought the banjo directly from Stewart, his local maker.
This instrument like all early Stewarts was built in an era when only gut strings were used on banjos. It is set up with a NylGut classical set and a old very solid Rogers 1st quality calfskin head. We would NOT recommend steel strings on this instrument; the cherry neck is relatively straight for one of these but not designed for steel string tension. Many lovely old Stewart banjos have been effectively ruined by steel stringing over the last 100 years. Taken as it is, this is a lovely period piece and a fine playing and sounding banjo within its 19th century intentions. It resides in a modern HSC. Excellent - Condition.
This is an S.S. Stewart banjo marked "Special Thoroughbred" made around 1897-8, not long before the founder's death in April '98. At the time the Philadelphia company was, by their own account at least, the world's greatest banjo maker, although both Fairbanks and Cole would have begged to differ!
The Special Thoroughbred was a fairly unique model built with higher grade materials but usually devoid of the fancy fingerboard inlay used by most makers in this era. It was endorsed in 1896 by the virtuoso Alfred A. Farland, who was so full of ideas about how the banjo should be made he would shortly launch his own signature instrument line. He wanted a clean playing surface for his elaborate technique, and found the usual profusion of pearl in the better instruments to be an impediment. The "Special Thoroughbred" therefore has only tiny diamond inlay, leaving mostly unbroken ebony for the fingers to dance on.
The other features are fairly high end. This example is built around a 10 3/4" spunover 28 bracket rim with a 26 1/2" scale neck with extra laminations under the fingerboard and headstock face. A lovely dense floral pattern pearl and wire inlay decorates the headstock while the heel is elaborately carved in a typical Stewart floral motif. The dowel stick carries an inlayed celluloid "S.S. Stewart, Phil'a PA" logo tag and an impressed "SSS" headstock-shaped logo. An ivoroid "Special Thoroughbred" tag is pinned inside the lower rim. The tailpiece is a period "Elite", the tuners are standard period friction pegs with ivoroid buttons. Stewart's patented turnbuckle neck brace is intact and working; this was one of the earliest such systems.
This model listed at $40 in 1896, a high/midline price for Stewart and a not inconsiderable sum of money even in the Gilded Age. Stewart himself was never at a loss promoting his wares; the Special Thoroughbred was described as "made of the choicest selected material, and possesses the quality of musical tone so desirable in a concert banjo". He added it was "made for BANJO PLAYERS exclusively and not novices". For a time the Thoroughbred models were not sold in music stores, but had to be special ordered directly from Stewart's Philadelphia factory, which explains why many have variable features.
The banjo shows some light wear and tear but remains a nicely original survivor of the first golden era of the 5-string banjo, a true playable antique and a lovely example of S.S. Stewart's work.
Overall length is 35 1/4 in. (89.5 cm.), 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm.) diameter head, and 2 3/4 in. (7 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 26 1/2 in. (673 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This banjo remains in nicely original condition showing fairly light wear typical for its age, now approaching 130 years old! The finish on the neck is relatively clean with a couple of wear spots to the wood in the lower positions. There are some minor dings and dents but no heavy capo marks. The fingerboard and frets show only minor wear.
There is some loss and corrosion to the outer plated rim surface, and a lot of hook wear to the top rim of the hoop from multiple re-headings. The hook and nut set is completely original with general plating loss mostly to the tops of the hooks but less corrosion than many.
All other hardware is original or at least period; the Elite tailpiece is common to the era but not the standard Stewart factory fitting. The neck brace and friction tuners are original. The dowel has a patched hole (under the brace) and there are some tiny patched screw holes in the inside rim from a Farland mute once mounted and long ago removed. Inside the rim is the name of "H G Malloy" and a Philadelphia address written in old fashioned ink; perhaps this player bought the banjo directly from Stewart, his local maker.
This instrument like all early Stewarts was built in an era when only gut strings were used on banjos. It is set up with a NylGut classical set and a old very solid Rogers 1st quality calfskin head. We would NOT recommend steel strings on this instrument; the cherry neck is relatively straight for one of these but not designed for steel string tension. Many lovely old Stewart banjos have been effectively ruined by steel stringing over the last 100 years. Taken as it is, this is a lovely period piece and a fine playing and sounding banjo within its 19th century intentions. It resides in a modern HSC. Excellent - Condition.