1923 is a date to highlight because this is the year when some critical changes to Fairbanks – Vega tenor banjos took place relating to headstock inlays and the loss of short-scale tenors (~20 3/4 inch scale and nominally 17 frets) for  replacement by long-scale (~23 inch scale, nominally 19 fret [not the 22 fret plectrum banjo]). However, there was some overlap during this period, as might be expected in a factory with stock parts sitting around. Late 1922 also marked the year that David L. Day left Fairbanks – Vega for the Bacon Banjo company — some say that this seminal change signalled an actual downturn in Vega banjo design/quality! As I recall this is the time when only the Vega name was used as a trade-mark, e.g., on the dowel stick.

Thus, Vega tubaphone tenors were produced in roughly two periods: The David Day – Imperial Torch period, 1918 – 1922, and the post-David Day – Vega and Vines period, 1923 +. The dates and styles follow below.

Dates & Styles

Vega Tubaphone tenor banjos likely first came about at the end of World War I. Although the early teens (1912) Vega catalogue does not list tenor banjos, interestingly, a testimonial on the last page mentions Vega tenors! Given that the end of World War I was 1918 the date of this catalogue might be later than 1912 or a catalogue supplement or earlier catalogue documented Vega tenors.

There is a catalogue listed as 1923 (but very likely any date from 1917 to 1924) that lists three tubaphone tenor styles: Style M, Style X No. 9, and Style De Luxe. This is the first documentation that I am aware of of Vega Tubaphone tenors. See the images below:

Style M Rim/Pot/Head Size
According to the ’1923′ catalogue, all three styles came is two sizes: Regular, 10 3/4 inches (which today fit 10 15/16 inch heads) and Professional, 12 inches (which today fit 11 13/16 inch heads). Style Ms were shipped by default as Regular size whereas the two higher end models were shipped Professional size by default; one had to specify otherwise. This likely explains why the majority of Style Ms in existence today sport 10 15/16 inch heads and Style Xs and De Luxes are always (I’ve not seen otherwise) sporting 11 13/16 inch heads.

This does not explain the 11 1/2 inch Style M extended fingerboard tubaphone in question. These heads are not mentioned in the ’1923′ catalogue, but were listed as such in the ’1912′ catalogue for Professional Artist five string tubaphone No. 3s and No. 9s, and likely the De Luxe.

Since 11 1/2 inches is the size of the head we use today for these oddball tubaphone tenors, I am uncertain what that would translate into ‘catalogue-speak’. Catalogue speak in the sense that what is given in the catalogue as “shell size” doesn’t always jive with the replacement head size we would use today. For example, in the ’1923′ catalogue tubaphone ‘shells’ or rim sizes were denoted as 10 3/4 and 12 inches; today for replacement head sizing we go up for the 10 3/4 incher (10 15/16) and down for the 12 incher (11 13/16). As mentioned, 11 1/2 inch ‘shells’ are listed in the ’1912′ catalogue but is this the replacement head size, too? I have heard of 10 1/2 inch replacement head versions of this Style M but do not have any images — please contact me if you have one of these on any Tubaphone tenor.

Thus, at least at this point, there are three known sizes for Tubaphone tenors: 10 5/16 inch versions with 28 hooks (standard fingerboard), 11 13/16 inch versions with 30 hooks (standard and extended fingerboards), and the 11 1/2 inch rims with 28 hooks (extended fingerboard only).

The three known sizes of heads for Vega Tubaphone tenors. A. 10 15/16 with 28 hooks (11 inch in catalogue). I have seen no extended fingerboard Style Ms with this pot size. B. 11.5 inch with 28 hooks (also noted as 11.5 inch in an early, ~1914 catalogue but I am uncertain if it’s the same). This is the common size for extended fingerboard Style Ms. C. 11.75 inch pot, which may well be an 11 13/16 size, given there are 30 brackets. Style Ms were default 10 15/16 but could be ordered in the Professional size of 11 13/16 (12 inch in catalogue). B and C are considered large pot. C courtesy of John Hoft.

During the transition from 1922 to 1923, pot/rim/head size does not seem to have changed for the Vega tubaphone Style M, X, and De Luxe. However, this is the period where short-scale (~20 3/4 inches), nominally 17 fret tenor banjos were pretty much eliminated from the Vega line-up — they were replaced, for the most part, by long-scale (~23 inches), 19 fret tenors.

Large pot Style Ms pre- and post-1923 without extended fingerboards usually had 16 frets in order to maintain the optimal placement of the bridge, which is approximately 2/3 the distance from the top of the rim. However, in some cases the largest pot sizes had 15 or 17 frets on the standard fingerboard, making scale very variable!

Extended Fingerboards
Back to catalogue images one can see that the two higher end Styles (X, De Luxe) sport the extended fingerboards with 22 frets, effectively providing a three octave range. Interestingly ,I can find no only two examples of Style X No. 9 and/or De Luxe tubaphoneshaving extended fingerboards with 22 frets –most with extended fingerboards, pre- and post-1923, have 20 frets. The first exception is one very unique Style M with five strings (double course E string) with the 22 fret extended fingerboard as seen in the ’1923′ catalogue (see below). Was this fingerboard only a prototype from Vega and what about the fifth string, coursed similarly to a mandolin, special order or aftermarket?

The second example is of a 1921 Style X No. 9.
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Thus, the extended fingerboard on the Style M tubaphones also sport 20 frets, and this appears to be the standard for Vega tenors at least, the ’1923′ catalogue notwithstanding.

Headstock Inlays

Based on serial numbers, the 1918-1922 (Fairbanks – ) Vega Style M tubaphones sported the Imperial Torch and 1923 and later (in to the early 1930s) versions had the Vega and vines (or Scrambled Eggs?) inlay. Occasionally one may find a 1923 serial numbered Style M with a Imperial Torch inlay, which suggests either inaccuracy with serial number dating or a marriage of parts during a transition period.

Vega Style M Tubaphone Tenor Banjo Headstock inlays. To the left the Imperial Torch design, usually seen with serial numbers dating from 1918 to 1922. To the right, the Vega and Vines or Scrambled Eggs inlay seen with serial numbers dating 1923 in to the early 30s.

 Finish Colour

Colour also provides a clue to the date and Styles of the various Vega styles of tenors. There appear to be two finishes for Vega tenors in the 1918 – 1922 Imperial Torch period: natural and antique. Style Ms without extended fingerboard are predominately found with the “natural finish”, as noted in the ’1923′ catalogue. The extended fingerboard versions from this period have what appears to be the ‘antique’ finish reserved for the Style X and De Luxe versions.

Tenors from the 1923 + Vega and Vines period appear to have ubiquitously sported what the 1928 Vega catalogues referred to as “amber brown”. However, I have seen images of a De Luxe from this period with a markedly “natural” finish.

Here is a nifty banjo Serial Number finder that can help to date Vegas.