Banjo Ukulele, made by Slingerland , c. 1924
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Banjo Ukulele, made by Slingerland, c. 1924, made in Chicago, natural finish, maple neck and rim, ebonized fingerboard, black gig bag case.
This is a very nice example of an earlier 1920's-style better-grade blonde Slingerland-made banjo uke. It is unbranded (as most were) but is definitely the work of this Chicago company, who built something like 90% of the inexpensive banjos of the 1920s. The 3-ply laminated neck and 7" openback rim are finished in natural maple, with some nice burl figure on the rim. The ebonized fingerboard has pearl diamond inlay, the banjo-shaped headstock is covered with a plain ebonized veneer sporting one inlaid pearl star. The hoop is heavy gauge, the hooks good quality and the nickel bent-metal tailpiece is marked with the "Bell Brand" logo. This cute little instrument is quite loud and very snappy player with that already-recorded-on-a-78 tone.
Overall length is 21 in. (53.3 cm.), 6 15/16 in. (17.6 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 13 in. (330 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.).
This is a very nice example of this lovely about 100 year old and perhaps slightly overbuilt instrument. It remains in clean original condition, with no repairs or alterations. The blonde finish has only very minor wear and the plating on the hooks, nuts, and other hardware has a few minor corrosion spots. The bridge is a period, but cut down somewhat, the genuine calfskin head appears original or at least period. This blonde Slingerland sounds raucously delightful, a fun instrument to play that never fails to bring a smile when strummed. Overall Excellent Condition.
This is a very nice example of an earlier 1920's-style better-grade blonde Slingerland-made banjo uke. It is unbranded (as most were) but is definitely the work of this Chicago company, who built something like 90% of the inexpensive banjos of the 1920s. The 3-ply laminated neck and 7" openback rim are finished in natural maple, with some nice burl figure on the rim. The ebonized fingerboard has pearl diamond inlay, the banjo-shaped headstock is covered with a plain ebonized veneer sporting one inlaid pearl star. The hoop is heavy gauge, the hooks good quality and the nickel bent-metal tailpiece is marked with the "Bell Brand" logo. This cute little instrument is quite loud and very snappy player with that already-recorded-on-a-78 tone.
Overall length is 21 in. (53.3 cm.), 6 15/16 in. (17.6 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 13 in. (330 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.).
This is a very nice example of this lovely about 100 year old and perhaps slightly overbuilt instrument. It remains in clean original condition, with no repairs or alterations. The blonde finish has only very minor wear and the plating on the hooks, nuts, and other hardware has a few minor corrosion spots. The bridge is a period, but cut down somewhat, the genuine calfskin head appears original or at least period. This blonde Slingerland sounds raucously delightful, a fun instrument to play that never fails to bring a smile when strummed. Overall Excellent Condition.