Offered here is a beautiful vintage Wm. L. Lange Paramount Style A 4-string tenor banjo, serial number 8145, manufactured in New York.
Based on published Paramount serial-number information, serial #8145 dates this instrument to approximately 1926, making it roughly 100 years old.
This is a wonderful original-looking Jazz Age banjo with an ornate Wm. L. Lange / Paramount / Style A inlaid peghead, decorative fingerboard inlays, wooden resonator and Paramount hardware.
The original interior Paramount manufacturer's plate is still present and reads:
PARAMOUNT
PATENTED
PIANO-VOLUME-HARP-QUALITY-TONE
MANUFACTURED BY WM. L. LANGE
NEW YORK, N.Y.
This banjo is being sold in as-found vintage condition and has not been professionally restored or serviced.
One of the machine heads/tuners is broken, and the tuner housing/case is cracked. Please see the close-up photographs.
There is age-related wear, scratches, finish wear, oxidation/tarnish and other cosmetic wear consistent with an instrument of this age.
I have not had the banjo professionally inspected or set up and cannot guarantee its playability. It is being sold AS-IS. A professional setup and/or repair may be required before playing.
Please study all photographs carefully for the exact condition and completeness. The photographs are considered an important part of the description.
A beautiful early Wm. L. Lange Paramount Style A tenor banjo with serial #8145 and fantastic period character. A great candidate for a vintage banjo collection, restoration project or player looking for an original Jazz Age Paramount.
no case