Bacon Mandolin

Groton, CT. Serial #: 162. "The Bacon" engraved on tailpiece. Lovely patina. Length: 68cm.

In 1906, famed banjo player Frederick Bacon founded the Bacon Manufacturing Company in Forest Dale, Vermont. At first he marketed banjos made by other manufacturers, but then he began selling four- and five-string banjos of his own design. In 1920, Bacon moved his operation to Groton, Connecticut, where he renamed his enterprise the Bacon Banjo Company. In 1922, he was joined by David L. Day, a talented designer, formerly of the Vega Company, one of the most widely known banjo makers of the era. There was never any actual company or corporation named "Bacon and Day" -- the banjos were always labeled on their interior dowel as "Fred Bacon Manufacturing Co." or "Bacon Banjo Company."

The Meisel Collection. This instrument is being sold from The Meisel Collection assembled over a period of forty years by an accomplished attorney from Princeton, New Jersey. The owner traveled the world in search of rare, interesting, and handsome instruments to fill a collection that until now was displayed in his beautiful Princeton home.

Please note: The items in the Meisel Collection are being sold F.O.B. Princeton, New Jersey. The recommended shipper is the U.P.S. Store, 174 Nassau St., Princeton, NJ 08542 which has extensive experience shipping fragile auction items. The Store can be emailed at store2026@theupsstore.com or called at 609-924-0759. The auction house makes no commission on shipping; payment for shipping is made by the buyer directly to the shipper. Although buyers are free to use any shipper they choose, we have found this shipper to be fair and reliable.

Condition: More detailed condition reports and additional photographs are available by request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that the lot is in very fine condition. Please message us through the online bidding platform or email Guernsey's at auctions@guernseys.com to request a more thorough condition report.