Gibson RB-4 Mastertone #8914-4, the "Cecil George"
There is no rarer iteration of the style 4 Mastertone than the version with tube-and-plate flange and solid raised-head tone ring, only produced circa 1927-1928; such style 4 banjos with original five-string necks are so rare as to be practically nonexistent, with a total estimated production of five units. #8914-4 (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. factory order numbers) is an example of just such a banjo in completely original, excellent condition, including its friction fifth-string peg and nut, original frets, setup instructions from the factory, and #521 "Masterkraft" case by Geib and Schaefer including not one but two keys.
Unlike its littermate #8914-2, the "Reid Rakes", this banjo conforms in all respects to standard specifications at the time for an RB-4. However, close inspection does reveal some hidden irregularities which give an insight into Gibson's banjo production practices of the time. The factory order number #8380-2 can be faintly seen written in pencil inside the resonator just above the large chalk number; the same factory order number is also stamped on the outside of the rim at the neck junction. The lot #8380 dates to 1926 and an original ball-bearing RB-4 #8380-9 has recently surfaced. #8914-4 was apparently assembled using reworked components originally destined for RB-4 #8380-2 which remained in inventory at the factory two years later. Further evidence can be seen in the rim splice, indicating that this rim had originally been prepped with holes for a ball-bearing tone ring assembly and was then modified for s cast raised-head ring by removing the drilled upper portion of the rim and replacing it with a solid cap. The same rim splice can be seen in TB-5 #8252-23. One additional detail showing that this rim was reworked at the factory is the presence of additional screw holes for the L-brackets in the earlier orientation with the lower hole on the left and the upper hole on the right.
The original owner of #8914-4 was Cecil George (August 1893-March 1983), a lifelong resident of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. Mr. George worked for the New Hampshire Highway Department, in a cotton mill, and finally for the Public Service Company of New Hampshire, from which he retired; records show that Mr. George registered for the draft in both World War I and World War II. The banjo remained in Mr. George's family until February 2012.
Genealogical information on Cecil George
courtesy of Joe Spann.
