Antique Vintage Lange Orpheum Banjo 5 String Open Back Carved Heel With Case
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:18737392 | Brand: Orpheum |
| Body Style: Open Back |
Antique Vintage Lange Orpheum Banjo 5 String Open Back Carved Heel with Case. Condition is Used. Antique Vintage Orpheum/Lange open back banjo with 24 brackets and 11" head. I think this is an Orpheum/Lange banjo even though it has no serial number or name plate to identify it. In about 1897 two New York instrument makers, Lange and Rettberg bought the J. H. Buckbee banjo factory. Buckbee of New York had produced many banjos which were sold under other... names such as Dobson and Pollmann. Early in the 20th century, Rettberg and Lange (R&L) began to make banjos with the Orpheum brand name, and Lange continued to make banjos with many Orpheum features after he left R&L, until about 1935. Some of the best Orpheum banjos were made with the same carved neck heel pattern, the black and white (sometimes also red/green) layers of wood between halves of the neck and underlying the fretboard that this banjo has (see the photos). Orpheum/Lange banjos were also known for their intricate and often delicate headplate inlays (also a feature of this banjo). I especially like the intricate pair of doves inlayed into the headstock- each holding a tiny ribbon of silver (I think) in its beak. This banjo also has the same design of hooks, nuts, and shoes found on many Orpheum banjos.This banjo has an 11" Remo Fiberskyn head, an antique Elite brand tailpiece, 5/8" Maple/Ebony bridge, elaborately carved neck heel, b/w/b skunk stripe in the two-piece Maple neck, and b/w/b underlay beneath the Ebony fretboard. The shoes all match and seem to be original, and one of brass nuts looks newer than the others but is the correct shape. The hooks all match although some look newer/shinier than others. The neck is straight and has a newer nitrocellulose finish and has a repaired and stable crack that I can see on one side of the neck heel. The tuners look original and work well, with those in the headstock having old grained ivoroid buttons; the fifth string has an old ivoroid button. The neck is bound with grained ivoroid. The headstock has a b/w/brown underlay beneath the Ebony head plate (there is a similar layering on the bottom side of the neck heel), and some very fancy and intricate inlays (pearl, silver, and abalone) on the headstock. The main nut and fifth string nuts are bone. The Ebony fretboard has been filled and refretted and shows virtually no wear. The fretboard has nice inlays at frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 17 and 22. The inlay at fret #7 has had a part of it replaced. The inside of the Maple rim is stained to look like Rosewood and overall the rim is 2-5/8" deep. The banjo is about 36" long overall and has an approx. 26-1/4" scale length. Nut width is 1-1/4" and strings are about 3/32" above the 12th fret. As with any instrument that is many decades old, this banjo has had some dings and scratches, but this one is in excellent/playing condition and is very attractiveThe banjo comes with an old functional hardshell plywood (1970's?) Canadian case with black vinyl covering that has been extensively repaired (new handle, 2 replaced latches, painted black, etc.) and is nicely padded with foam and blue plush fabric (see photos).Please ask any questions you have before bidding/buying. I am not a banjo expert but I will try to answer any questions you have. Shipping will be at a flat rate of $50 to anywhere in the contiguous 48 statess and actual cost elsewhere; please inquire and send me your zipcode if you'd like a shipping estimate. Thanks for reading to the end of the description.
