British Banjo Parts

[Joshua Levin-Epstein]

Anybody know anyone in the US who specializes in British Banjos? I have a very nice tenor in the shop that needs a machine replaced and would be worth the effort to search out an original. I am already looking into European specialists.

 

Thanks,

 

Joshua

[Kerry Krishna]

Joshua, show us a photo or two of the machine and some info. It is possible that one of us here has one.

[Joshua Levin-Epstein]

Here you go. This is a Windsor Emperor Supremus, circa 1920. It is pretty much all original. Some hex nuts have been changed, but that's about it. The A string tuner won't turn and the D is not long for this world. The machines are riveted shut and I would rather find some (original) replacements before doing surgery. It would take a machinist (which I am not) or a watchmaker (ditto) to repair the machines. A set of Waverlys would stick out like a moustache on the Mona Lisa.

9 piece Walnut/maple/? neck, carved walnut resonator. This thing makes me want to own a banjo. Not play or listen to one, just to own one (like this).

[Kerry Krishna]

Joshua, there are probably dozens of brands of old style banjo machines out there, and most eventually have to undergo surgery to redo the leather 'O' ring that compresses with time. The ring  truly turns into something otherworldly too, as I have seen many times.

The fastest thing for you to do, is to figure out how to get the two machine heads open without damaging the cases, and replacing that one part .

So if you change your question  to 'How do I open this without damaging the casing?' you will likely get some good answers here. 

The other option, that many repair folks like us do, is just order replacement machines.I have had to do this several times on these vintage guitars that I collect. Sometimes, there is just no getting around it, and I am pretty sure that the banjo's owner will understand. He may be disappointed, but will understand.  There are ways to antique the new ones too, so that they look old .

The chances of you finding two working machine heads are, I think, incredibly small. 

[William F.Eden]

The other picture sorry about that if they are of any use to you your wellcome to them Bill............

[Mark Pollock]

I would join the Banjo Hangout (www.banjohangout.org) where there are a LOT of people who specialize in this stuff. You can post a wanted ad and see what happens.

[Frank Ford]

Those appear to be Grover 3:1 tuners, with the "Windsor" brand stamped on them.  They are not especially common, and they are not highly sought after because they are such nasty little buggers.  Definitely not worth the cash to do any serious machine work on their mechanisms, although they can be taken apart with some effort and parts replaced in some circumstances.  Unlike some of the other flat Grover tuners which are usually 2:1, they do work reasonably well, when they are working.

[Paul Hostetter]

I agree. There's a very active banjo site in England http://classic-banjo.ning.com/  SIgn up, go on the Forum part, and post your photos and see who responds. 

[Joshua Levin-Epstein]

Paul and Mark,

 

Thanks for the links. I have gotten (unfruitful) responses from Texas, Peru (not Indiana) and Australia. Hope springs eternal, if not international.

 

Joshua

[Joshua Levin-Epstein]

OK, I'm resolved to replacing the machines. Does anyone have a favorite (or least favorite) planetary machine? I think the Keiths are too expensive (but I will run it past my customer) so There are Waverly, Gotoh, ABM, Pavels (which are supposed to be very good).

Any picks or pans?

 

Joshua

[Paul Hostetter]

Waverly makes this one: http://elderly.com/accessories/items/BP35.htm

and Grover makes this one: http://elderly.com/accessories/items/BP34.htm

Both are quite good. I suggest them because they'll cover the footprint of the originals well, if not entirely.

Greg Boyd has the Ptaceks:

and once had the Krishoy/Pavels, seemingly now gone. Or renamed? Prucha has them though: http://en.pruchabanjos.cz/part.php?part=tuning-pegs

Check: http://gregboyd.com/accessories_sub_category.html?category_key=5&am...

Keiths are stainless and just look wrong on old banjos. Most of the others, Gotoh, Five-Star et al, work very well, but have the small planetary housings.

[Matthew Groves]

Hi Joshua,  It seems that I have arrived at the point that you found yourself in a few months back. I have aquired the exact same banjo, also missing a tuner, and read with interest your replies and advice from other members. I was wondering what, if any, solution you decided upon, and if you have had any success?

[Joshua Levin-Epstein]

After many e-mails and responses from the post on the British web site, I decided to go with Waverlys, which required a bit of reaming (the peghead, not the tuners) and work beautifully. I suspect you could comb the world, find some original machines and gnash your teeth until they break.

Check out the links Paul Hostetter posted for alternatives.

 

Joshua