Info on Gilbert Banjo

[JST]

I recently inherited this banjo from my Father. He bought it from his father in the ‘70s for $75. I really don’t know anything about it. It’s a Gilbert bim-bam banjo. “Gilbert; 1807" and "Made by Gilbert at Wirsted, Conn. USA" is painted the metal dial. The Gilbert “G” enclosed in a diamond, the number “26”, and “Made by, Wm. Gilbert Clock Co., Wirsted, Conn. USA” is embossed on the brass movement.


Any information, like model or year of manufacture, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Hope the attached photos help identify it.


Thanks.

 

[Steven Thornberry]

In the 1920's, it seems, Gilbert produced some banjos having a bim-bam strike; Gilbert's term for that was Normandy chime. Tran Duy Ly's book on Gilbert clocks (arlingtonbooks.com) shows trhree of these banjos, the No. 3083-C Yorktown; the No. 3083-D, Hamilton; and the No. 3083-B Hoadley. The Yorktown and the Hoadley are shown having a burl veneer center panel, as on yours, whereas the Hamilton has floral patterns on both the center panel and the bottom door. The only difference between the Yorktown and the Hoadley is the picture on the door glass, neither of which is like yours. So, I am not sure of the model number/name of your banjo. However, 3083-A is available and certainly implied by its absence.

The 26 on your movement stands for 1926, the date the movement was made. That gives at least an approximate date for the clock itself. It depends on when the movement was placed in the case. Gilbert began placing the year of manufacture on movements in the early 2oth century.

FWIW, in 1807, Samuel Hoadley established a clock factory (Samuel Hoadley & Co.) on the site in Winsted, CT. The factory changed hands a few times until 1841, when Gilbert and Ezra Baldwin acquired it from Riley Whiting in 1841. Gilbert began putting 1807 on their clock in the 1920's (I think) to give the impression that their ancestry stretched back farther into the dawn of time than it actually did. Perhaps the picture on yours is meant to represent Samuel Hoadley's factory. But, don't try to cash that particular check at a reputable bank.

 

[JST]

This is great! Thanks for all of the information Steven.


JST