George Houghton Silver Knight Late 1920's / An Eye-Catching Little Number

For sale is a George Houghton Silver Knight Tenor Banjo, in Excellent Condition, made somewhere between the late 1920’s and 1932 for the pre-war British Music Hall Dance Band Music Boom.  Its distinguishing features are the combination of a Sharp V Mahogany neck with an Oak rim and a striking, engraved Silver plated resonator.  It is an ideal choice for big band music, as it is bright enough to cut through a horn section, or for traditional Irish Music, if tuned alternatively to a G-D-A-E tuning, one octave below a mandolin or fiddle.

George Houghton was a manufacturer of stringed instruments in England, based at the Reliance Works in Birmingham.  Instruments were manufactured under the Houghton brand name and, as “white label” instruments, made for other retailers and department stores to be sold under their own house brands.  This is one of those white label instruments, sporting a headstock logo that reads “British Made.”  The distinctive silver resonator belonged to a model line called the “Silver Knight,” which was available in various tiers of quality.  Typically, banjos of the era would use a U or C profile neck; the V neck instruments were reserved for the higher end models.  Also, it was a typical practice to match wood types, from the neck to the dowel to the rim, so the presence of a Mahogany neck and Mahogany dowel with an Oak rim, suggests a bespoke instrument, tailor made to the needs of a particular player.  Oak imparts a brighter tone to the instrument, most likely chosen by a working professional to cut through the horn section of a pre-war dance band.

Etched on the dowel is the name, “W. Wilson,” presumably the original owner.  

Here are the important specs:

Neck: Mahogany / Sharp V profile

Fretboard: Part of the Mahogany neck material / 19 frets

Dowel: Mahogany

Rim: Oak

Pot and Tailpiece: Steel

Resonator: Silver Plate over Aluminum

Bridge: Rosewood?

Head: Calfskin

Hooks: 19 (1 is missing)

Pegs: 1:1 Friction with Bakelite buttons

Scale: 22 3/4”

Action at 12fth fret / 3/32nds, both sides

Coming into the shop, the Silver Knight was mostly dirty and in need of a set up.  We have cleaned it thoroughly, shimmed and adjusted the neck angle, adjusted the nut slot heights, and strung it with a set of light gauge strings (.010-.032).  It is currently tuned to a C-G-D-A standard tuning, but would go very well tuned a fourth down to G-D-A-E with a set of Irish Tenor strings (more of a medium gauge, to maintain proper tension).

The banjo is in fantastic shape, but is not perfect. It plays well, as is, but could use a little more upkeeping.  One of the hooks is missing and the calfskin head should be replaced.  We’ve left everything as found to preserve its vintage appeal.  The hook will be an easy find, and the head a routine replacement. It will ship in its original chipboard case.

Please be sure to check the photos carefully, as we have tried to capture this vintage banjo from all sides.

This George Houghton Silver Knight Tenor Banjo is sold AS IS and is not returnable unless it arrives in a condition other than as described or photographed, here.

Price: $550.00 plus $100 shipping (Lower 48 USA, only)