1927 Vega Style R Tenor Banjo — Tubaphone Tone Ring, Original Case, Full Provenance

Offered here is a beautifully preserved 1927 Vega Style R Tenor Banjo, built in Boston, Massachusetts during Vega’s golden Tubaphone era. This instrument (serial #90372) was sold new through the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. in New York and delivered to Miss A. Lucille Proctor of Hackensack, NJ on January 28, 1927, as documented by the original signed Wurlitzer receipt included in the case.

A second receipt from the Voltaire School of Music (New York, Jan 29, 1927) shows her payment toward “Banjo #90372,” tying the instrument directly to Vega’s New York dealer network. It’s extremely rare to find a 1920s Vega with such complete and verifiable provenance.

Miss Proctor was a close lifelong friend of my wife’s grandmother—considered family in every way—and she left this banjo to her dear friend later in life. From there it has remained within our family circle ever since, lovingly cared for and kept complete with its original green-lined hardshell case, vintage fingerpicks, period Black Diamond string envelope, two original receipts, and an extra bridge believed to be the original one that came with the instrument.

Specifications

• Vega Style R tenor banjo — Boston, MA (1927)
• Serial #90372
• Tubaphone tone ring (patented 1909)
• 28-bracket maple rim and resonator
• Segmented “pie-back” sunburst resonator
• Bound ebony fingerboard with dot inlays
• Vega star-inlaid headstock veneer
• Original hardware: Presto tailpiece, Grover tuners
• Original case with green corduroy lining
• Includes both installed bridge and spare original bridge
• Original 1927 Wurlitzer & Voltaire School receipts

Condition
Excellent for its age. Finish retains rich color and depth, nickel hardware shows only light patina. The calfskin head remains intact and playable, and the neck is straight. No cracks, separations, or repairs. One bridge is currently installed; the spare bridge found in the case is almost certainly the original.

A new set of La Bella 720M-LE medium loop-end strings (for standard tenor tuning, C–G–D–A) will be installed and professionally set up prior to shipment.

Tone & Playability
Classic Vega Tubaphone clarity — bright, projecting, and balanced, with that unmistakable 1920s tenor voice ideal for jazz, early swing, or traditional tenor styles. The Tubaphone tone ring delivers the crisp chime and quick decay that made Vega famous among professional banjoists.

Included

• Original 1927 Wurlitzer & Voltaire receipts
• Original green-lined hardshell case
• Period Black Diamond string envelope
• Two vintage fingerpicks
• Original and modern bridges
• Fresh strings and professional setup before shipping

$1,800 USD — ships fully insured
A rare, one-owner–family 1927 Vega Tubaphone with complete provenance through the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. and Voltaire School of Music. A professional-grade instrument from Vega’s finest era — fully documented, beautifully preserved, and accompanied by nearly a century of well-kept history.