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Antique American Clocks                      July 2021

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141.     $500

E. Howard & Co. “No. 5 banjo”, ca. 1880.  An authentic E. Howard No. 5 banjo, with everything original except, perhaps, the weight and throat glass.  The 29-inch walnut case has a clean finish but no grain painting is present. Yes, I’m sure the weight broke out the bottom as I see glue in the edges, but the base wasn’t damaged.  On the other hand, the backboard has split away from the case on the right side and it goes through the lower right edge of the base.  It is not visible except from the back and inside.  The dial glass and tablet are original, with original paint on the tablet; the throat glass appears to be a replacement.  The metal dial has a very old paper dial, varnished long ago; I thought only Howard & Davis banjos had paper dials, but this one looks original, and there is no evidence of paint underneath the paper.  Perhaps this is a very early example of this model.  The movement is signed and runs for a while before giving up.  It will need service. The pendulum stick and bob are correct, the bob is damascened.  The weight shield is original but has been repainted long ago. There is no label.  Howard No. 5’s are selling between $500-$1000 these days.

 

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