More Dallas George Formby Banjo Ukes

Have a look on Ebay and chances are you might find a rare Banjo uke. Even one signed by George himself maybe?
OK, so they are not that rare, but they are highly collectable, and great looking.
Mostly made before the war they are of varied quality, some badly built with high actions and wonky necks.

I have restored a few more Dallas models recently and notice how the manufacture changed at some point during the run. An early model D/1070 i restored,  has the neck with attached support pole. Usually on the Dallas instruments inside the pot is a piece of wood slotted in to appear to be attached to the neck, which is simply screwed onto the pot.

Maple Dallas-D neck with attached support. Next to a Gibson and another USA made uke.

Quick Tension ring shot before the vellum goes on.

Connected to the pot with this solid fixing usually found on high end USA made instruments.

The D model has a tension ring, shown above which sits just inside the pot on small brackets.

Also note the pole through the pot actually just sits onside the pot and is screwed to the inside of the pot.

The metal Diamond cut flange plate attaches via the tension hooks and the resonator sits on top and is held on via two thumb screws.

This is a Dallas C. This is the strengthing pole i mentioned. Notice the screws where the neck is attached to the thin pot. In the background is the resonator with metal razor sharp flange. The C is cheaply made and put together, the sunburst finish adds a touch of Gibson class.



The B model. My personal favourite from the whole range. Lightweight with a 7.5 inch pot. This particular uke i had all the parts replated to give a cool chrome finish to the resonator flange.





Sanded down and ready to refinish B/2879

Re-chromed parts and new calf skin




Two cresent shaped pieces make up the resoantor flange, and the box resonator attaches via a screwthumb through the perch pole.





A Great beginners instrument. Rewarding to restore too.