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Art Shows

Time for Tea

July 31, 2021

The local community art league has an annual mid-summer extravaganza referred to as the Food Show. The title and theme of the juried competition this July was “Snack Time.” The opening reception was the first in-person event since early 2020 and was conducted with masks-up and social distancing. In mid-August, the art league plans to host its yearly gala evening called “Let Them Eat Art” where local chefs and bartenders offer food and drink inspired by the works in the gallery, and the guests vote on their favorite dish and beverage. For the Snack Time exhibit, the BRC craftsman submitted an “Herbal Tea” banjo that was accepted into the show.

Mother of pearl tea leaves of gold, green, and black flutter down the peg head and onto the fretboard. The heel of each BRC banjo is a signature location for a unique mother of pearl inlay, and a green tea leaf is situated there on this 5-stringer (below right) for the eyes only of the musician.

The entries were adjucated by a university Visual Studies faculty member who provided the Juror`s Statement:

It was a pleasure to jury the Snack show! Fortunately, artists provided me with a broad range of media and subject matter. From felting to banjos and handmade paper with blueberries, the artists in the Snack Show create a visual experience for us that ranges from quirky to gorgeous and well-crafted.

 

 

 

At the art league`s opening event pictured below, two BRC grandkids pose by their Grandpa Doc`s snack time 5-stringer. By serendipity, the BRC craftsman has exhibited 3 banjos in various art shows during this past month of July: Baroque Bur Oak, Sky Rover, and now the Herbal Tea.

During the opening ceremony, a mysterious gallery visitor apparently familiar with tea leaf readings, closely studied the mother of pearl inlays on the Herbal Tea banjo and reportedly predicted, “Better days are ahead.” Good news is always welcome.

From the BRC: Be safe, be well, be vaxed.

Picks

Take Your Pick

July 17, 2021

The original patent for the National finger pick was filed on July 20, 1928 by George Beauchamps and John Dopyera who jointly founded the National Guitar Company that year. This prototype finger pick was initially manufactured with only “PAT. PEND.” emblazoned on it until December 30, 1930 when the patent was approved. Thereafter, the assigned patent number 1787136 appeared on each item. There is some conjecture as to whether Beachamps or Dopyera actually designed the nickel silver alloy fingertip device, but Dopyera soon departed partnership with Beachamps to found the Dobro Company.

The rare pre-war PAT. PEND. fingerpick has since become a collectors` gem valued up to $200 a piece. During the 1960`s when the BRC banjoist was first learning to play the 5-stringer, he recalls buying these prototypical PAT. PEND. picks and wondering why no numbers were affixed to them. He discarded these items when the above abbreviated lettering finally wore away from industrious months of practicing rolls.

A life long devotee of National picks, the BRC craftsman has subsequently burnished the “NATIONAL PAT. NO. 1787136” off countless such classic items over the years. With the serial numbers displayed on them, these vintage picks are worth up to $80 apiece depending on condition. Collectors pointedly distinguish the “oval 8” version which features an oval hole in the blade, oval circles in the number 8, and a curved top to the number 3 versus a model with rounded circles forming the blade hole and the number 8, and a flat top to the number 3. These findings reportedly indicate different die castings.

With the success of the popular “oval 8” generation of items, the “NATIONAL PAT. NO. 1787136 USA” version soon appeared inscribed in traditional block print. These picks are called antiques by online marketers and valued up to $45 a piece. Collectors note that sometimes the hole in the blade is off-set from the adjacent USA, or visa visa, and this reportedly denotes different die castings. With the exception of the above PAT.PEND. photo, all of the picks pictured in this posting are from the BRC collection. Many were graciously gifted to the BRC founder by a guitar player in the Gainor & Friends band whose elderly relative had discontinued banjo playing.

New variants of the pick evolved over the years billed as modern reproductions of the original patented item, and these models were inscribed with (note script) “National PAT. NO. 1787136 NP1″ followed by a later “NP2” version. The NP1 item was available in brass, nickel silver, and stainless steel in .025 gauge. The NP2 model was available only in nickel silver and in a lighter .023 gauge. A four-pack of the latter can be purchased today for $12. There was also a NP-2B option made of brass, and a NP2-SS was made of stainless steel as seen below.

In recent years, a very plainly labeled National finger pick has appeared with a pointed blade tip (below). There is also an infrequent reference to a “National Brand” pick reportedly manufactured in Taiwan about which little else is known. In online chat rooms, banjoists are fond of the National pick series but steel guitar players- not so much.

Lastly, a definitive and scholarly history of the National finger pick line, its patent issues, and its sequential brand name owners is not available. The good news is that D`Addario Strings acquired the National finger pick franchise this Spring thus conferring a bright future for these iconic finger tip devices and the current and future musicians who will wear them.

From the BRC: Because of the paucity of accurate information on the timeline of this unique family of historic finger picks, any corrections, additions, commentary, or insights from the readership are most welcome.

Art Shows

Sky Rover

July 4, 2021

Over the last 63 years, the sprawling annual Art in the Park festival has brought scores of national artists to our university town for an early summer weekend to celebrate creativity and sell their wares. This Spring, however, the June 4-6th event was again canceled for the second year in a row because of covid restrictions.

As done in 2020, entries were nonetheless accepted for the Veterans Pavilion tent. These works will be exhibited virtually on line as done last year but supplemented this season with postings on social media and a pop-up display July 17-29 in the lobby gallery of the Central Bank of Boone County, Missouri. The BRC craftsman, a former Air Force serviceman, fashioned a “Sky Rover” banjo that was accepted for the Veterans Tent art show. A life long student of military history, the BRC banjoist has an extensive collection of vintage wartime posters, many of which display bold eagle images as seen below right. The Founding Fathers adopted the eagle as the emblem of our fledgling country because of the fierce beauty and proud independence of the bird. Native Americans revere the eagle because it flies so high and is considered the avian closest to the Creator.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to mother of pearl inlays on the peg head and fretboard of the Sky Rover, the heel of the instrument bears a signature BRC inlay for the eyes only of the musician. In an art league gallery picture below, the BRC craftsman poses with the Sky Rover while it is being photographed for the Veterans Pavilion virtual exhibit. A reception for the contributing Veteran artists is planned at the Central Bank on July 29th at the conclusion of the pop-up exhibit.


From the BRC: Have a restful and healthy Fourth of July weekend.

Vega Martin Stories

Inside a Vega Martin Wonder

June 19, 2021

From the BRC Mailbox:

Dear BRC: Can you help me determine what model my banjo is and what year it was manufactured from the serial number? The number printed inside on the pot is 331. It says CF Martin & Co printed above the number… Any information is appreciated, thanks. D.R.

 

Dear Reader:

Thank you for the prompt and clear photos as requested. Your instrument # 331 is a “Wonder” model manufactured in Nazareth, PA, at the Martin factory in late 1972. In addition to the C.F. Martin decal on the interior of the pot, a similar and standard decal is located on the back of the peg head as per your photographs. In the 1970 transitional Vega Martin banjo catalogue, this entry level banjo featured a metal tone ring, white fingerboard binding, a heavy notched tension hoop, a 10 ply rim, geared tunings pegs, a 3 piece maple rim, blackwood fingerboard, pearl dots, a resonator with 4 section metal tone flanges, nickel plated metal parts, a plastic head, armrest, and a shaded mahogany finish. In the 1971 C.F. Martin price list, it retailed for $345 without case. The Wonder tone ring was upgraded to brass in the 1976 Vega Martin catalogue.

 

 

There is a feature of interest on the interior of this instrument which was assembled not too long after Martin purchased the Vega franchise in 1970. The “VM” initials and abbreviated serial number “31” stamped on both the inner surface of the metal tone ring skirt and on the top of the wooden rim (above) are probably labeling on inventory inherited by C. F. Martin from the Vega workshop where these markings had guided the Boston luthiers in assembling matching parts. A couple of years ago, a website visitor from Europe wrote the BRC Mailbox including a picture of the tone ring on his more up-scale F-VIP Vega Martin banjo made in 1975 which had the matching serial number engraved on the outer tone ring (below) as displayed also on the interior of the pot.

My impression is that this workshop labeling strategy represented a routine Boston quality control measure that was subsequently adopted by C.F. Martin during its banjo building era in Nazareth, PA. We should all make a note to inspect our tone rings for hidden markings when changing the head. Thanks for your query and best wishes from the BRC.

Be well, Barry

Art Shows

Baroque Bur Oak

June 5, 2021

Not far from the hamlet of McBaine (population 10), and just one-half mile from the Missouri River banks, stands what local citizens call “The Big Tree.” This sprawling bur oak is co-holder of the National Championship for the largest tree of its species along with a similar tree in Kentucky. The Big Tree sprouted sometime in the 1600s and is estimated to be 350-400 years old. It is located near the historic Lewis and Clark Trail, and these explorers probably gazed upon its lofty silhouette two centuries ago.

The roadside Big Tree resides on farmland owned by a sixth-generation Show-Me family. This towering oak has survived storms, lightning strikes, 6 foot deep floodwaters from Big Muddy, droughts, vandalism, and spray-painted political graffiti. Bicyclists from the nearby Katy Tail picnic under its leafy shade, and it is not unknown for clergy to contemplatively stroll beneath the mighty skyward reaching branches. Last autumn, after thieves stole its copper grounding cables, a lightning strike set the ancient tree ablaze.

The Boone County Fire Department promptly extinguished the blaze but not before the fire had burned out the core of the tree. Missourians wondered all winter whether enough of the outer nourishing cambium layer of the massive bur oak had been preserved in order to afford its survival. Copper grounding cables were reinstalled as seen below just behind the banjo.

Earlier this spring, the tree`s branches issued tiny delicate buds which soon handsomely leafed out to everyone’s joy and relief. Arborists from the University report that the ancient bur oak has been in decline for a long time but will probably outlive us all. To honor this magnificent and durable Missouri treasure, which has thrived in Heartland soil long before our nation was founded, the local Bur Oak Brewing Company produces a “Big Tree IPA.”

For the Members Only summertime exhibit at the local art league, the BRC craftsman fashioned a ” Baroque Bur Oak” banjo to celebrate the survival of the champion tree.

 

 

 

 

Amidst 90 entries of oil and watercolor paintings, sculptures, multi-media, and woodworks, the Baroque Bur Oak banjo hangs on a central gallery pillar as a learning opportunity for youngsters.

Last Sunday, the local newspaper celebrated the survival of The Big Tree on the front page.

From the BRC: Preserve our precious environment.