1898 W.A. Cole Eclipse Model 2500 Open Back Banjo Serial #4929 - Very Good Condition

Step back into the 19th century with this remarkable 1898 W.A. Cole Eclipse Model 2500. William A. Cole was among the era's most respected banjo makers, and the Eclipse line remains prized by collectors for its craftsmanship and distinctive tone.

The Details

• Built by W.A. Cole, 1898
• Serial number: 4929
• Offered in honest vintage condition, showing the wear you'd expect from an instrument well over 125 years old — a testament to a life well-played, not a flaw to hide
• Retains its authentic period character throughout; genuine antique with real provenance
• From the Marvin Rosenberg Collection

The Marvin Rosenberg Collection This banjo comes from the collection of Marvin Rosenberg — patriarch, attorney, corporate counsel, competitive sports car racer, and lifelong lover of folk and Americana music. For decades, Marvin showed up to jam sessions and bluegrass venues with friends, and that same passion shaped his instrument collection. He sought out player-grade instruments — vintage pieces with real, honest wear from a life of actual use — over pristine collector-shelf pieces, assembling a personal collection of guitars, mandolins and banjos meant to be enjoyed rather than admired behind glass. Each piece was a tool of a passionate musician, chosen with the discerning eye of someone who understood exactly what made it special.

Add a true piece of American musical history to your collection today.

* The information presented here was collected from the estate of Marvin Rosenberg and independent research. It is accurate to the best of our ability.