Nov. 28, 2022 - HOLIDAY SHOPPING: BRING IT ON!
First time on the market since 1978! John sold this early Tubaphone No. 3 to his good friend, James Atleson in one of his earlier banjo transactions. At the time John had two rare Fairbanks-Vega Tubaphones and customers for each in neighboring Buffalo. The other banjo was a much cleaner example with no modifications, and it went to collector Elias Kaufman. This banjo had geared tuners added, and at one time had an additional peg through the globe of the flower pot inlay. That was filled and the pink globe replaced. Now, Jim was not a collector at the time. He just wanted a great banjo to play and he chose this over the much cleaner banjo because it sounded great. Now all these years later, it is still one of the greatest sounding Tubaphones we have ever owned.
The legendary Tyler Wescott stopped at the store on Saturday. We had a great visit and helped his friend pick out a nice tenor banjo for Dixieland playing.
Two of my three daughters, Kara and Rose.
Uncle Ben gets to meet his nieces, Scarlet and Olive, daughters of his brother Jay.
HOLIDAY SHOPPING: BRING IT ON!
November 28th, 2022
Good Morning Folks,
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday hosted by our daughter, Kara Miller and her husband Michael at their home in Irondequoit, New York. Everyone was in attendance except for my daughter Grace who was in Detroit to watch a Buffalo Bills football game. We missed her at the table. It was so beautiful to have everyone there, some seeing each other for the first time in a long time. The food, setting and ambiance was just perfect.
Saturday found Julie and I tending store with Sammy Hirsh and Sen Neitz on "Small Business Saturday". It was a revolving door of customers all day long. Some drove in from considerable distances to try out and buy rare and exotic instruments, others were just doing Christmas shopping, finding little gifts like ukuleles and books and accessories. The out-of-town visitors were also the mainstay of the day. Bernunzio’s is always a "destination". The main emphasis of our business has always been our online sales, but it was fun to be a part of the community and once again catch up with friends and customers we haven’t seen in a long time. Although I’m still struggling through rehabilitation from back surgery, it was uplifting to be at the store and be involved with the things that I love so much. Julie and I are planning on being in the store for extended hours during the holidays. We will announce the special December hours in a separate newsletter. This Saturday is the “StarShine” festival in Penn Yan and we are hosting an open house. Please, if you have a chance, stop in and say hello.
Sincerely,
John Bernunzio
My daughter, Kara Bernunzio Miller hosted a wonderful feast on Thanksgiving Day. She is so creative and decorated the entire table with things that she found in the yard…. The food was just perfect for the day.
Thanksgiving day with my lovely daughter-in-law, Taylor and twin grand daughters Olive, and Scarlet.
On Saturday night, we got to visit with Julie’s parents, Henry, and Barbara and had a fine dinner at my daughter Rose’s house in the South Wedge area of Rochester.…that girl can cook!
Saturday I picked out a nice mandolin for myself. I always like to have one around the house at Christmas time. I brought home an Eastman!
We will be open extended hours through the holidays. Announcements to follow. Come on downtown and see some fine instruments. I’ll buy you a cup of coffee!