Welcome to
This website is dedicated to photos and descriptions of the many banjos in my collection, along with a few other vintage instruments I have picked up over the years. I have authored this site in the hope that other collectors might follow suit and share photos and information on their banjos with others in the collecting community. Since my interest in banjos stems in part from my interest in the technological development of the instrument over the years, my collection spans the period from the 1840’s to the 1920’s. As my collection evolves, banjos presented on the home page of this site may be removed and added to a "banjos I previously owned" page. Banjos in my current collection are listed alphabetically by manufacturer or brand name. I have recently added a page on Fairbanks/Vega engraved inlay evolution for those interested in how this particular art form developed over the years and through the transition from Fairbanks to Vega ownership. For those interested in the genealogy of banjo manufacturers, I have included a page summarizing some important relationships between manufacturers, but much better information is available elsewhere (see, for example, America's Instrument, The Banjo in the Nineteenth Century, by Gura anad Bollman, University of North Carolina Press, 1999). For those interested in finding out more about buying vintage banjos and other vintage stringed instruments, I have included a page on that as well. I have also included a page on identifying unmarked banjos, for those who have an instrument of unknown origin. For those wondering where I put all of these instruments, I have added a page on living with vintage instruments. This should be particularly helpful to those collectors trying to convince dubious spouses that they don't already have too many banjos. Finally, I have added a page dealing with maintaining and restoring vintage banjos and other vintage stringed instruments. Also, click here for an example of how one can go too far to restore a banjo. For questions and comments, please contact me (Bill Destler) at bill.destler"at"rit.edu.(substitute @ for "at").
Banjos
Bacon
Bacon "Professional FF" (chubby dragon) 5-string banjo, S/N 99, Circa 1906
Bacon "Professional FF Special" 5-string banjo, Circa 1913
Bacon "Professional FF Special Grand Concert", 5-string banjo, Circa 1913
Bacon "Professional Special Grand Concert", S/N 7252, Circa 1920
Boucher
W.E. Boucher, Jr. fretless 5-string banjo, XXII, Circa 1848
Boyden
B.E. Boyden "The Boyden" 5-string banjo, Circa 1891
Buckbee
J. H. Buckbee (Waldorf?) 5-string banjo, Circa 1895 (pearl fingerboard)
Burkard
W. N. Burkard 5-string pony banjo Circa 1890's
Clifford-Essex
Clifford Essex “Special XX” 5-string banjo Circa 1915
Cole
W. A. Cole 5-string banjo, S/N 163, Circa 1890
W. A. Cole "Eclipse" (Bird) 5-string banjo, S/N 597, Circa 1891
W. A. Cole "Eclipse" 5-string banjeaurine, S/N 2541, Circa 1895
W. A. Cole “Eclipse” 5-string banjo model 2500, S/N 3197, Circa 1896
W. A. Cole 5-string ladies' banjo, model 1500, S/N 3425, Circa 1896
W. A. Cole “Eclipse” 5-string banjo model 5000, S/N 3600, Circa 1897
W. A. Cole “Eclipse” 5-string banjo, model 3000, S/N 3670, Circa 1897
W. A. Cole “Eclipse” 5-string banjo model 4000, S/N 3959, Circa 1897
W. A. Cole 5-string banjo, S/N 4183, model 2000, Circa 1898
W. A. Cole "Eclipse" 5-string banjo, S/N 5333, model 3500, Circa 1900
W. A. Cole banjo-mandolin, S/N 6604, Circa 1904
Cubley
E. J. Cubley 5-string fretless banjo, Circa 1880
C. E. Dobson
C. E. Dobson "Great Echo" 5-string banjo, S/N 255, Circa 1888
E. C. Dobson
E. C. Dobson "Chimes-Orchestra" 5-string banjo, Circa 1890
G. C. Dobson
George C. Dobson "Victor-Concert" 5-string banjo, Circa 1880's
George C. Dobson "Victor-Regal" 5-string banjo, Circa 1880's
H. C. Dobson
H.C. Dobson fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1867
H.C. Dobson fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1878
H.C. Dobson “Silver Bell Patent” 5-string pony banjo, S/N 7598, Circa 1883
Eibel (click here for new information on Eibel banjos!)
A. F. Eibel (Reading, MA) 5-string banjo Circa 1889
A. F. Eibel (Malden, MA) 5-string banjo Circa 1890’s
A. F. Eibel (Malden, MA) 5-string banjo Circa 1890's
A. F. Eibel (Malden, MA) 5-string banjo Circa 1890's
Fairbanks & Cole
Fairbanks & Cole flush fret 5-string banjo, S/N 1301, Circa 1881
Fairbanks & Cole guitar-banjo, S/N 1318, Circa 1881
Fairbanks & Cole "Clipper" 5-string banjo, S/N 1700, Circa 1881
Fairbanks & Cole fretless 5-string banjo, S/N 1944, Circa 1882
Fairbanks & Cole 5-string banjo, S/N 4022, Circa 1884
Fairbanks & Cole “Imperial” 5-string banjo S/N 4604, Circa 1884
Fairbanks & Cole piccolo 5-string banjo, S/N 6870, Circa 1885
Fairbanks & Cole "Acme" 5-string banjo, S/N 7300, Circa 1887
Fairbanks & Cole 5-string banjo, S/N 7375, Circa 1887
Fairbanks & Cole “Imperial” 5-string banjo S/N 7663, Circa 1887
Fairbanks & Cole "Imperial" 5-string banjo, S/N 8246, Circa 1888
Fairbanks & Cole "Expert" 5-string banjo S/N 8600, Circa 1888
Fairbanks & Cole "Imperial" 5-string banjo, S/N 8654, Circa 1888
Fairbanks & Cole “Imperial” 5-string banjorine, S/N 9543, Circa 1889
Fairbanks
A. C. Fairbanks "Electric" 5-string banjo, S/N 1147, Circa 1891
A. C. Fairbanks "Electric" 5-string banjo, S/N 2011, Circa 1892
A. C. Fairbanks "Curtis Electric" 5-string banjo, S/N 2370, Circa 1892
A. C. Fairbanks "Electric" 5-string banjorine, S/N 3693, Circa 1893
A. C. Fairbanks 5-string banjo, no S/N, Circa 1894
A. C. Fairbanks “Electric" No. 1, 5-string banjo, S/N 15670, Circa 1896
A.C. Fairbanks “Electric” No. 3, 5-string banjo, S/N 15712, Circa 1896
A. C. Fairbanks "Columbian" No. 2, 5-string banjo, S/N 16109, Circa 1896
A. C. Fairbanks "Columbian" No. 2, 5-string banjo, S/N 16408, Circa 1896
A. C. Fairbanks “Special Electric" No. 1, 5-string banjorine, S/N 18573, circa 1899
A. C. Fairbanks “Special Electric No. 5” 5-string banjo, S/N 18869, Circa 1899
A. C. Fairbanks “Senator No. 1” 5-string banjo, S/N 21028, Circa 1901
A. C. Fairbanks "Special No. 4" 5-string banjo, S/N 21225, Circa 1901
A.C. Fairbanks “Whyte Laydie” No. 7, 5-string banjo, S/N 22616, Circa 1903
A. C. Fairbanks “Whyte Laydie" No. 2, 5-string cello banjo, S/N 22924, Circa 1903
A. C. Fairbanks “Imperial Electric" No. 0, 5-string banjo, S/N 23078, Circa 1904
Fairbanks (by Vega)
A.C. Fairbanks (by Vega) "Electric" 5-string banjo, S/N 24549, Circa 1908
A.C. Fairbanks (by Vega) “Regent” 5-string banjo, S/N 25121, Circa 1909
A.C. Fairbanks (by Vega) "Tubaphone" #9, 5-string banjo, S/N 25516, Circa 1909
A.C. Fairbanks (by Vega) "Senator" No. 1, 5-string banjorine, S/N 25917, Circa 1909
A.C. Fairbanks (by Vega) "Tubaphone" #3, 5-string banjo, S/N 26126, Circa 1910
A.C. Fairbanks (by Vega) "Tubaphone" #9, 5-string banjo, S/N 27062, Circa 1911
Farland
A. A. Farland “Artist’s Grand" No.2, 5-string banjo Circa 1902
Farris
J. Farris “E&F Tenor Banjay”, Amateur Grade 2-1/2, Circa 1880’s
Gatcomb
L. B. Gatcomb “Gatcomb’s Award” model 75, 5-string banjo, S/N 4471, Circa 1890
L. B. Gatcomb “The Monarch” model 20, 5-string banjeaurine, S/N 6151, Circa 1890
Haynes
John C. Haynes "Bay State" 5-string banjo, model 323, Circa 1890
John C. Haynes "Bay State" 5-string banjo, model 325, Circa 1890
John C. Haynes “Bay State” 5-string banjo model 354, Circa 1890
Lyon & Healy (including Washburn banjos)
Lyon & Healy
"Professional" 5-string piccolo banjo model 913, Circa 1892
Lyon & Healy 5-string ladies' banjo Circa 1892
"George Washburn" 5-string banjo Circa 1892
"George Washburn" 5-string banjo, model 421 custom, Circa 1892
"George Washburn" 5-string ladies banjo, model 421 custom, S/N 390, Circa 1892
"George Washburn" 5-string banjo, model 442, S/N 328, Circa 1892
1492-1892 Columbus Quatracentennial 5-string Banjo Circa 1892
Lyon & Healy "Mystic" piccolo flush-fret 5-string banjo, Circa 1897
Lyon & Healy “Professional” 5-string banjo, Circa 1897
"George Washburn" 5-string banjo, S/N1095, Circa 1897
"George Washburn" (by Cole) 5-string banjo, S/N 6, Circa 1900
"George Washburn" Improved model 565, 5-string banjo, S/N 8027, Circa 1915
"George Washburn" Improved model 5100, 5-string banjo, S/N 8295, Circa 1915
Magez
J. Magez fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1870's
J. Magez fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1870's
Morrison
Jas. Morrison (1882 patent) 5-string banjo, S/N 271, Circa 1880's
Pollman
August Pollman mandoline-banjo, Circa 1890
Quinlan
J.E. Quinlan 5-string banjo, Circa 1890's
Rettberg & Lange (including Orpheum banjos)
"The Pearl" (likely Rettberg & Lange) 5-string banjo Circa 1908 (pearl fingerboard)
"Orpheum #2", 5-string banjo, S/N 3876, Circa 1915
"Orpheum #3", 5 string banjo, S/N 9079, Circa 1915
"Orpheum #1", 5 string banjo, S/N 10874, Circa 1915
"Orpheum #3 Special", 5-string banjo, S/N 13406, Circa 1919
Robinson
Robinson (by Fairbanks) 5-string banjo, Circa 1900
J. B. Schall
J.B. Schall (unmarked) fretless 5-string banjo Circa 1880
J.B. Schall 5-string banjo Circa 1895
J.B. Schall 5-string banjo Circa 1895
J.B. Schall (Denzel) “Peerless” 5-string banjo Circa 1895
S. S. Stewart
S.S. Stewart "Universal Favorite" flush-fret 5-string banjo, S/N2865, Circa 1886
S.S. Stewart "Orchestra" fretless 5-string banjo, S/N 3321, Circa 1887
S.S. Stewart "Universal Favorite" No. 2, 5-string banjo, S/N 3593, Circa 1887
S.S. Stewart "Orchestra" 5-string banjo, S/N 4011, Circa 1888
S.S. Stewart "Universal Favorite" No. 3, S/N 5522, Circa 1890
S.S. Stewart “Thoroughbred” 5-string banjo, S/N 6096, Circa 1890
S.S. Stewart “Little Wonder” piccolo banjo, S/N 6265, Circa 1890
S.S. Stewart "Pony Concert" banjo, S/N 6670, Circa 1891
S.S. Stewart "Champion" presentation 5-string banjo, S/N 7501, Circa 1891
S.S. Stewart "American Princess" custom 5-string banjo, S/N 8819, Circa 1891
S.S. Stewart custom presentation 5-string banjo, S/N 9217, Circa 1892
S.S. Stewart “Universal Favorite” No.2, 5-string banjo, S/N 9732, Circa 1892
S.S. Stewart "Universal Favorite" fretless 5-string banjo, S/N 10035, Circa 1892
S.S. Stewart "Champion" presentation 5-string banjo, S/N 11246, Circa 1893
S.S. Stewart “Orchestra” No. 2, 5-string banjo, S/N 11773, Circa 1893
S.S. Stewart "Universal Favorite" No. 4, 5-string banjo, S/N 11973, Circa 1893
S.S. Stewart "Orchestra" No. 3 ,5-string banjo, S/N 13026, Circa 1893
S.S. Stewart "Orchestra" No. 4, 5-string banjo, S/N 13455, Circa 1893
S.S. Stewart "Champion" presentation 5-string banjo, S/N 14352, Circa 1894
S.S. Stewart "Imperial Banjeaurine" No. 3, S/N 14576, Circa 1894
S. S. Stewart “Specialty” No. 4, 5-string banjo, S/N 15236, Circa 1894
S. S. Stewart "Orchestra" No. 3, 5-string banjo, S/N 15681, Circa 1894
S.S. Stewart "Champion" 5-string custom-made banjo, S/N 15747, Circa 1894
S.S. Stewart "Champion" No. 2, 5-string banjo, S/N 16323, Circa 1895
S.S. Stewart "Special Thoroughbred" No. 3, 5-string banjo, S/N 16098, Circa 1895
S.S. Stewart "Champion" No. 3, 5-string banjo, S/N 16379, Circa 1895
S.S. Stewart “American Princess”, No. 2, 5-string banjo, S/N 16544, Circa 1895
S. S. Stewart “Specialty” 5-string banjo No. 2, S/N 17941, Circa 1895
S.S. Stewart “Special Thoroughbred” No. 4, 5-string banjo, S/N18366, Circa 1895
S.S. Stewart 5-string banjo-banjeaurine, S/N 18403, Circa 1896
S.S. Stewart 5-string "Solo Banjeaurine", S/N 18837, Circa 1896
S.S. Stewart 5-string "Cello" banjo, S/N 62758, Circa 1898
S.S. Stewart "20th Century" 5-string banjo, S/N 63505, Circa 1900
S.S. Stewart "Special" 5-string banjo, S/N 69404, Circa 1900
S.S. Stewart “Special Thoroughbred”, No. 3, 5-string banjo, S/N 70868, Circa 1900
S.S. Stewart “Acme Professional-University Glee” 5-string banjo, Circa 1900
Stratton & Handley
Stratton & Handley (by Cole) 5-string banjo, Circa 1895
Stratton & Handley (by Cole) 5-string banjeaurine, Circa 1895
Stetson
Stetson (by Fairbanks) 5-string presentation ladies banjo, S/N 15043, Circa 1895
Stetson (by Fairbanks) 5-string banjo, Circa 1897
Teel
G.S.W. Teel fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1880's
Thompson & Odell (including Luscomb banjos)
Thompson & Odell 5-string banjo, S/N 1930, Circa 1890
"Luscomb" 5-string banjorette, Circa 1890
"Luscomb 1893 Patent", grade 3, 5-string banjo, S/N 53, Circa 1893
"Luscomb 1893 Patent", 5-string banjo, S/N 129, Circa 1895
"Luscomb 1888 Patent" grade 4, 5-string banjo, S/N 1439, Circa 1895
"Luscomb 1893 Patent" 5-string banjo, S/N 1638, Circa 1895
"Luscomb 1888 Patent" grade 3, 5-string banjo, S/N 2781, Circa 1896
Thompson & Odell “Artist” 5-string banjo, S/N 3782 Circa 1897
Turner
J.M. Turner 5-string banjo, Circa 1890
Upcott
Upcott fretless piccolo 6-string banjo, Circa 1870's
Weymann
Weymann 5-string banjo Circa 1900’s
Wilkes
F.C. Wilkes 5-string banjo, Circa 1900 (pearl fingerboard)
Windsor
A. O. Windsor 7-string banjo, Circa 1895 (presentation grade)
Unmarked, Minstrel, and Folk-Art Banjos
Unmarked fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1860
Unmarked fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1865
Unmarked fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1867
Unmarked Teed-style fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1870
Unmarked fretless 5-string banjo Circa 1870
Unmarked flush-fret 5-string banjo Circa 1870's
Unmarked fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1870's
Unmarked fretless 5-string banjo Circa 1870's
Tambourine folk-art fretless banjo Circa 1882
Unmarked bass banjo Circa 1890
Other Vintage Instruments
Guitars
Thornward guitar (almost certainly made by Lyon & Healy/Washburn), Circa 1900
George Bauer guitar, S/N 334023, Circa 1900
Unlabeled (but probably Lyon & Healy/Washburn) guitar, Circa 1910
Gindlesberger harp guitar, Circa 1911
S. S. Stewart tenor guitar, Circa 1930
Mandolins
Washburn mandolin no.175, S/N 59004, Circa 1897
Gibson F4 “torch and wire” mandolin, S/N 5713, Circa 1906
Stahl (made by Larson brothers) Mandolin, Circa 1915
Weymann Mandolute, No. 75, S/N 28962, Circa 1920
Gibson F4 mandolin, S/N 69266, Circa 1921
C. F. Martin mandolin B-11313, circa 1923
C. F. Martin mandolin, E-13218, Circa 1926
Miscellaneous
Lachenal English concertina, SN 43576, Circa 1890
C. F. Martin “style 1” ukulele, Circa 1925
Rolmonica player harmonica, Circa 1929
My playing instruments
` C.F. Martin “D-28” guitar, S/N 215397,Circa 1966
C.F. Martin “000-16” special edition guitar, S/N 573399, Circa 1999
Eastman “Whyte Laydie” 5-string banjo, S/N 23001, Circa 2011
Eastman MD914 mandolin, S/N 5393,Circa 2010
Eastman MD905D mandolin, S/N 6934,Circa 2011
Eastman MDA815 mandola, S/N 4701,Circa 2010
