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 ARCHIVED TOPIC: Clifford Essex Piccolo banjo


Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/336867

Stephen John Prior - Posted - 11/21/2017:  08:23:39


Just taken delivery of an early 1900's Clifford Essex Piccolo banjo. 8 & 5/8 pot. Needs a bit of work. Anyone else come across one before ? Will post photo's later.

Joel Hooks - Posted - 11/21/2017:  10:11:41


Cool little banjo!

8 and 5/8" is big for a piccolo banjo. Your strings would be so tight they would burst!

Most piccolos are right around 7" rim with a 14" scale.

This one more closely resembles in size what SSS sold as a "Poly Concert Banjo"

Stephen John Prior - Posted - 11/21/2017:  11:26:19


Thanks for the id Joel. . The scale length is 18 & 1/2 inches. Any advice on string gauge ?


Edited by - Stephen John Prior on 11/21/2017 11:26:44

R. Blakeslee Gilpin - Posted - 11/21/2017:  12:00:07


That's a beauty. Looks exceedingly nice.

Joel Hooks - Posted - 11/21/2017:  12:00:31


HA! That should have been "Pony Banjo."

Yeah, that is too big for a piccolo.

The Pony Banjos were pitched with the fourth string to G, the rest corresponding to "standard intervals."

I would use the same strings I use on regular size banjos, Labella nylon "lute" singles. .017, .019, .023, .024w, .017.

I used one thousandth smaller for my piccolo as the strings were too stiff (I use it in a "banjo orchestra" with the American Banjo Fraternity so I tune it to the correct octave above a regular banjo).

csacwp - Posted - 11/21/2017:  12:37:54


Agree with Joel that this is a pony, not a piccolo. I’ve never seen one made by C.E. before.

Ron Ortegel - Posted - 11/21/2017:  15:22:46


Nice find, Stephen!

Stephen John Prior - Posted - 11/22/2017:  00:35:38


Thanks everyone. You live and learn. It was sold to me as a Ukulele, which makes me feel slightly better about my initial i d !!
Needs a lot of very careful cleaning. It does however retain the original CE Champion style tuners but i need to somehow remove the 5th string tuner housing as the shaft is missing. Will post again when complete.

banjowilly22 - Posted - 11/22/2017:  11:03:02


Hi Steve, I have an all original CE Clipper Piccolo, which is the only one I have ever seen or heard of in 50 years of collecting. I will dig it out and get the measurements, and hopefully
Upload some photos.
Keith

Stephen John Prior - Posted - 11/23/2017:  05:53:39


quote:

Originally posted by banjowilly22

Hi Steve, I have an all original CE Clipper Piccolo, which is the only one I have ever seen or heard of in 50 years of collecting. I will dig it out and get the measurements, and hopefully

Upload some photos.

Keith






Hi Keith. Thanks that would be really interesting. I'm not that knowledgeable on Clifford Essex styles but i think this one has similarities to the Clipper. I vaguely remember seeing something in a old Banjo World where Essex said he was marketing a Banjeaurine but i haven't seen any reference (so far) to a Pony or a Piccolo. 

Joel Hooks - Posted - 11/23/2017:  08:03:00


I was off by 1 inch on scale. SSS "Little Wonder" piccolos, my J. Clamp and others I have measured and seen all have a 7 inch head with a 15 inch scale (the equivalent to a 30 inch scale on tension of strings).

Attached is a photo of my Clamp with my CE Concert Grand for size comparison.

Never mind the six tuners on the Clamp, it started life as a 5 string and always was. At some point in its life an owner wanted machine tuners so they cut the peghead down and added mandolin tuners cut down to three on a plate. They covered up the whole mess with a well fitted piece of german silver. It is kind of weird but the machine tuners work fine (the British have done weirder things with banjos).



 

banjowilly22 - Posted - 11/26/2017:  09:23:01


Hi Steve, I have located my CE Clipper Piccolo, along with 2 Joe Daniels and a Geo.P.Matthews.
Can someone with more Computor knowledge please advise me on how to get Photos onto the BHO ?
Thanks Keith

Stephen John Prior - Posted - 11/27/2017:  03:47:15


quote:

Originally posted by banjowilly22

Hi Steve, I have located my CE Clipper Piccolo, along with 2 Joe Daniels and a Geo.P.Matthews.

Can someone with more Computor knowledge please advise me on how to get Photos onto the BHO ?

Thanks Keith






Hi Keith. Go to your home page click on media and follow the add photos link.

banjowilly22 - Posted - 11/28/2017:  12:31:32


Hi Steve, Thanks for the info, but I am trying to get photos to upload from my I-pad.
I just get a message saying This app doesn't have access to my photos ?
Any suggestions ?
Keith

banjowilly22 - Posted - 12/03/2017:  08:55:05


Clifford Essex Piccolo No.39-Keith


banjowilly22 - Posted - 12/03/2017:  08:57:48


CE Clipper Piccolo No.39 - Keith


banjowilly22 - Posted - 12/03/2017:  09:01:54


HI Steve, Here are photos of my 2 Joe Daniels Piccolos-Keith

banjowilly22 - Posted - 12/03/2017:  09:09:19


Joe Daniels Piccolo Banjos Keith


banjowilly22 - Posted - 12/03/2017:  10:36:21


Photos of a Geo. P. Matthews Piccolo Banjo. Made for a J.L.Stevenson of Glasgow,
In 1891, Anybody out there with any more info on this Player ?
Keith


Stephen John Prior - Posted - 12/04/2017:  01:27:01


Thanks for posting Keith fascinating little group.

kiteflyer - Posted - 12/08/2017:  07:58:38


A lovely gathering there Keith, the Daniels are very distinctive with that peg head shape, a mini collection on its own.

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