W. Boucher Minstrel Era Banjo

W. Boucher Minstrel Era Banjo
(ca. 1865?)

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Boucher Banjo, Front View

Boucher Pot, Bottom View

Boucher Pot, Side View

Boucher Banjo, Rear View

The banjo has an average pot diameter of approximately 13 3/8".
The pot is 3 3/8" deep.

The scale length, using the end of the double ogee as the octave, is 27 1/2"
which puts the bridge slightly above the center of the pot.

The banjo came strung with very light steel strings and a modern bridge
which was much too narrow for the fingerboard.

The tension hoop is steel. It is not appreciably rusted and looks as though
it might have been silver plated. I have not polished it.

5 of the original massive hooks and nuts remain.
Two are makeshift replacements and 1 is missing.

The original tailpiece was/is attached with modern nylon clear fishing line.

The Pot

Pot, Neck Entry

Pot, Top View

Pot, Neck Exit

The neck is solid rosewood. It appears to consist of 2 pieces, the majority of the neck including the carved peghead, and a second piece laminated parallel to the neck at the bottom of the heel. In light of the thickness of the major piece, it appears that the second piece was added to cover an internal dove-tail or other internal means of attaching the dowel stick.

It is difficult to determine the wood of the pot since the outside is completely covered with a beautiful rosewood veneer and intricate marquetry. The pot is reinforced with two internal ribs that run the entire length. There is no additional bracing where the wall joins the bottom.

The Neck

Dowel Stick, End

The Dowel Stick

Dowel Stick-Neck Joint

Heel (showing shims)

Transition To Playing Area Of Neck

Double Ogee

Fifth Peg Detail

Back Of Peghead, Hand Stop

Boucher Stamp & Neck Splice

W. BOUCHER Jr BALTIMORE

Peg Box With Cast Tumblers

Eagle's Head

Unfortunately, the eagle's beak has been lost in the misty past.
In the side view of the peghead it still retains its piercing glare.

Labels and Hardware

Geared Pegs & Tailpiece

Boucher Label on Bottom of Pot

Boucher Label on Side of Pot

Bracket, Hook, Nut & Skin

Three oval paper labels are attached to the inside of the pot,
one to the inside wall and two to the bottom.
One of the bottom labels has badly decrepitated.

The legend on the label reads:

W. BOUCHER JR.
(print here of instruments: banjo, drum & sticks,
trumpet, violin & bow, horn?)
38 EAST BALTIMORE STR
ONE DOOR FROM
HIGH ST.
BALTIMORE
IMPORTER & MANUFACTURER OF
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

The geared pegs may be commercial violin machines of the period
with the exception of the 5th peg gear.

The gear plates are unmarked brass.
The worms are steel; the buttons appear to be brass.
The sculptural circular gears appear to be brass, cast onto steel shafts.
The large cast metal barrels are pinned to the rotating shafts.

The fit of the gears is quite loose but they function perfectly under string tension.

In trying to determine a date of manufacture of the Boucher, Ed Britt told me that:

He was at 32 E Baltimore in 1850

Was at 38 in 1853 thru 1872
(But only labeled as a "maker" until 1859 -
by 1868 the word "maker" is NOT used - just "musical instruments")

Is at 84 1/2 W. Baltimore in 1881

Ed also suggested, and I agree, that the carving of the peghead is
an eagle with a laurel garland in its mouth.

Seeing the peghead - it appears to be an eagle's head, holding a laurel
garland. A typical motif for the time - which would ALSO tend to place it
more in the '60's!

--> I welcome any and all suggestions about date of manufacture.

Please address any comments or requests for more information to
Hank Schwartz