198.           $1200

Samuel Abbott alarm banjo, 1827–1831.  I’m all agog over this banjo (and I don’t like banjos) – its so early, in such good condition, and unusual.  If I collected banjos I’d collect this one.  The case is 40 inches from top of the bell to the bottom of the acorn finial, with flat mahogany veneer and corner posts, and decorative balls on the base.  The finish is old and clean; there are some veneer repairs.  Both glasses have been admirably repainted, the tablet glass old, the throat glass I’m not sure.  The dial glass is convex and beveled in a brass sash.  The iron dial may have been repainted, it is signed; the hands are period/original.  The alarm hand screws down to the cannon; I’m not sure how you set it.  It does strike, but I didn’t test it.  The brass 8-day, time-and-alarm movement is Abbott’s design, unsigned, and is running without issue.  There is a lead weight behind two tin weight shields, and an alarm weight that runs down the left side weight channel.  There are no sales records for an Abbott alarm banjo, but sales by contemporaries, including Aaron Willard, Jr., Abel Stowell, and Curtis & Dunning range from $1200–$5000.  $1200–$2500.