Fairbanks) with a scalloped tone ring and in 1909 Vega introduced the Tub-a-phone tone ring (also designed by Day). In 1908 Day redesigned the venerable Whyte-Laydie (See the accompanying story: A.C. Day became the General Manager of the Vega Company. Fairbanks Company accepted an offer to be purchased for $925 by the Vega Company plus $1 for the rights to 4 patents. The company was not properly insured and was financially devastated. Fairbanks and Company building caught fire and burned to the ground. He is responsible for many advancements in banjo design that define the modern banjo. He quickly demonstrated skill at design and manufacturing and must have been remarkably talented, motivated and well endowed with people-skills as he had achieved the role the General Manager within a very few years. By 1880 his family had relocated to Boston and, at age 18, he joined the Fairbanks and Cole Company as an office boy. This requires a brief discussion of the background of David L. In 1922 he was joined by veteran banjo designer David L. In 1921 he opened the doors of his new 60,000 square foot manufacturing plant at 169 Thames Street. He reincorporated as the Fred Bacon Banjo Company and relocated to Groton Connecticut. In 1920 Bacon determined to open his own manufacturing facility and assume control over all aspects of banjo construction. He apparently had some success but became frustrated with the limitations created by accepting the work of other manufacturers and living with their compromises and quality level. He then marketed them by demonstration, teaching and concerts. Their design featured unusual tone chambers with open backs and f-holes on the bottom of the rims. Most of these earlier instruments were 5-strings inlaid with “Bacon” on the headstock. His intention was to design the banjos and have them manufactured by other builders like Vega and Rettburg & Lange. The original partners were Fred and Cassie Bacon (his wife) and Mr. In 1906 he established the Bacon Banjo Company. He had amassed some money and chose to invest it in his own talents. His name was associated with banjos from the Vega Company in the early years.īacon fancied himself a designer and imagined many improvements to the banjo available at the time. (To hear a sample of his playing: Massa’s in The Cold, Cold, Ground, in 1916 – click here.) His talents were in demand for concerts, teaching and instrument endorsements. He must have been quite good as he quickly developed a reputation as a master player. He showed interest in music at a young age and the 5-string banjo was his instrument of choice.
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