Clifford Essex Paragon Deluxe Tenor sn. 252 ca.1930s. What an amazing story. Derek owned this banjo over 10 yrs ago. He eventually parted with it in 1994 to Guenter Amendt who in turn sent it to the prolific Japanese Collecter Akira Tsumura and can be found in Tsumura's book Banjo-The Tsumura Collection (1920-1940) on page 113.
After all these years the banjo found it's way to Bernunzio Vintage Instruments in Rochester N.Y. Derek seen it for sale and could not resist it. Telling me that his children are now short on their inheritance (HaHa. So is mine) it is now back at home with him in England. An amazing journey from England to Germany, Japan, New York and back to England. At this moment in time these are the only 2 known Clifford Essex (Tenor) Paragon De Luxe's known to Derek and myself.
Derek also stated and I quote,
"When Guenter offered your (Number 251) banjo for sale on his site, I was sorely tempted but I was always hankering after my old one back, and felt that it was meant to be!
I have always been keen on the Paragon instruments and met Marco Roccia long after he retired from CE and I left Number 252 with him, for him to clean!
I was told that a total of 25 Deluxe  banjos were made and most were plectrum, with a few five strings and tenors".

Visit Dereks's web site www.banjocollector.com