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1924 Paramount Style C 19 fret tenor banjo made by the Rettburg and Lange Company New York. This banjo bears the serial #3269 and is all original.

About the Banjo

The woods used in the instruments do make a difference in sound. Maple tends to be brighter, Mahogany mellower, walnut in the middle. The higher grade banjos have more expensive (and prettier) wood in them such as rosewood, holly, and ebony.  Other banjo makers did the same thing with their banjos, the fancier they are, the rarer the wood and the more carving, marquetry, etc. on the banjos.

The Style C has a natural dark mahogany finish, laminated maple/mahogany rim, laminated mahogany resonator, laminated mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard. The Style C banjo is one of Paramount’s most attractive designs, richly decorated with elaborate wood marquetry and very fancy engraved pearl inlay. The overall look is dark finished mahogany with chain pattern wood edging, wood and celluloid binding, and coloured wood inlay. The mahogany neck is of multi laminate construction with carved heel, carved peg head back and multilayered wood binding with a chain marquetry inlay up the sides. The headstock is decorated with an extremely fancy engraved pearl inlay and the fingerboard has shaped and engraved pearl in a flying bird motif. Hardware includes the Paramount swivel/tilt adjustable tailpiece and the hotdog style arm rest. Selling originally for $185, the Style C was a relatively affordable but still upscale professional grade tenor Banjo.

I have given this beauty the usual pure banjo once over and highly hand polished throughout. The neck is straight and has just had a complete refret with the slightly wider fret wire. I have upgraded the original Jos Rogers goat skin head for a brighter more powerful 11 2/16″ Weather King renaissance head. Which takes me to the detail & condition under the bonnet! The nickel plating throughout this instrument is in first class condition including the tone ring, so worth while showing of if you would prefer a clear head installed (extra). Comes with brand new TGI tenor banjo case with green lining.

Quick summary

• Original (indestructible) page geared tuners (all working well)
• Hotdog nickel plated armrest
• Paramount tail piece
• Nice Carving to heal & back of neck head stock
• Multi piece mahogany neck featuring holly & died pear wood
• TGI tenor banjo case

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Here is a sample video of how the Paramount C sounds with a clear head

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A Little Bit of History

19 fret tenor banjo from 1920’s made by the Puntolillo Company, New York. Around 1924 Puntolillo began building S. S. Stewart branded banjos and did so for several years, the Stewart Wondertone models are Puntolillo products. Before the big 20’s tenor banjo boom he was making open back 17 fret models under the names The Bell and Princess and they had a different tone ring design than Puntolillo’s later 1920’s 19 fret tenor banjos.  In the 20’s, of course, he had his own Majestic line and also produced banjos named Regina and Symphony. I suspect his instruments were an inspiration for the Clifford Essex Paragon as some models have the same vertical holes through the rim.

It’s archtop tone ring patent was issued in 1920 to Gaetano F. Puntolillo and it is this which gives this instrument its unique tonal qualities. I would put this banjo on a power with most professional level banjos, it has a sweet sustain with bass resonance and a rich soft tone. His work is more creative, even fanciful, than many builders of his period. People have asked me from time to time to recommend a good quality tenor banjo and of course this could open a never ending debate. Of lately I have been setting up, servicing and restoring quite a few of the Majestic brand banjos for customers and they are truly individually, little understated treasures. If Puntolillo was alive today I would market his instruments.

Banjo details

Rounded tone ring seated on flat bar archtop tone ring which is very different to his usual tone rings. In addition to the tone ring the maple wooden rim is fitted with a nickel plated flange. It is in incredible condition for an early 1920’s vintage instrument which has been very well cared for over the decades.

The 9 piece neck is constructed from rosewood with double centre pear wood/maple centres, triple wood laminate along the rosewood fretboard, which is perfectly straight with nice low playing action. The rosewood neck is decorated with floral pattern mother of pearl inlays and there is little wear to the original vintage frets. The head stock is very tastefully decorated in beautiful mother of pearl floral inlay bearing the name ‘The Bell’. The tuners are original Waverly tuners which all work fine.

The rim construction is 3/4 inch thick maple multiply laminate with outer rosewood veneer, housing the 22 circular shoes, hooks & nuts which remarkably resemble the Bacon & Day type. This lends me to think that Puntolillo bought various parts from Fred Bacon’s banjo company. The neck is attached to the rim by a centre 1/2″ circular bar. The construction of the maple resonator is finished in 2 piece rosewood which is 1″ thick side walls which makes the banjo body quite thin . The banjo is fitted with a new Remo 10 – 15/16″ white frosted head. Other great features are the original Waverly Kershner tail piece and arm rest. Woodwork and nickel plating throughout is in excellent condition and comes with a vintage hardshell case.

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