Windsor Whirle Victor Supremus Four String Banjo 1920s Project

Windsor Whirle Victor Supremus Four String Plectrum Banjo with 19 fret finger board and 10 3/4″ (27.3cm) diameter head, 32″ (81.3cm) long overall. Comes with a Remo head and the original case but with missing end.

This is a great project for someone with fairly basic skills. You’ll need to restring it, fit a new bridge and set it up. The case needs a new end to it, again fairly easy and a good introduction to case repair.

A plectrum banjo made by A.O. Windsor who, until the factory was flattened by a WW2 bomb in 1940, was the largest maker of fretted instruments in UK.

As described in the 1927 Windsor catalogue:

THE WHIRLE DANCE BANJOS
The Victor Supremus model
The NECK is made of very old seasoned wood and polished in its rich natural colour. The Fingerboard is inlaid with pearl positions. The shaping of the neck provides an ample width for the Peg Head on which are fixed Windsor’s Improved Geared Pinion Pegs which are absolutely non-slipping.

The RIM is made from Chrome-plated brass spun over a wood foundation. 20 Chrome-plated brackets and a Recessed Bezel. The Vellum is 10 5/8th inches.

The RESONATOR is made from wood, artistically inlaid and Cellulose polished, is easily detachable, and of a most ingenious design, comprising a large interior circle of metal sections which when assembled, form sound holes, producing a wonderful tone and effect. The Banjo is provided with an interior Tone ring.

The Banjo is made for Four strings or Five strings. G Banjo with 22 frets and a 27.5″ scale. C Tenor banjo with 19 frets and a 23″ scale

Price in 1927 was £6.6s.0d when around £3.0s.0d was an average weekly wage.