(Earliest form of Artist model)
19 fret tenor
#79956
79025...........................83827...............1928
The "Tube-a-Phone" was introduced in 1909.
The metal nameplate was dropped, and a stamped name on the dowel stick of "Fairbanks-Vega" was begun in 1910.
The stamped name was changed to "Vega" in 1923.
On March 4, 1904, the factory burned, and the Vega company purchased the company on March 21st, making banjos under the direction of David Day, later of "Bacon & Day" fame.
The patent for the individual flange plates was filed 10/30/1923 and issued to Carl Nelson 08/11/1925. The patent for the 4 piece Vega Vox flange, with its trapezoidal shaped soundholes, was filed 03/21/1927 and issued to William Nelson on 03/12/1929. The Nelsons were the owners of, and assigned their patents to, Vega. According to banjo historian Stu Cohen, checking the relevant catalogs, "The Vegaphone (a Tubaphone model with the 28 piece flange and resonator) was introduced in August, 1923. The 4 piece flange was introduced in August, 1928, along with the Vega Vox and the addition of Pearloid on the resonator wall
They sold
their name and equipment to C.F. Martin in May 1970. Martin built
Vegas are essentially the same as late 60's Vegas. In March 1979 the
Galaxy Trade Group purchased the Vega rights from Martin. All Galaxy
Vegas were Asian imports. In 1985 Deering acquired the Vega rights.
No mention of what happened to the Vega tooling and equipment after
Martin.
10-15/16 rim with Tubaphone tone ring
28 bracket, with individual flange plates
Exceptionally flamed pie section resonator
Carved heel
Clamshell tailpiece
Ornate MOP inlays
Planet tuners with MOP buttons
Older refinish
VG original HSC
Some checking in finish, and cracking in peghead veneer
Nice inlay and good frets
Write me at:
mrvintagebanjo@aol.com