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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 1860’s to the 1920’s. As my collection evolves, banjos presented on this site may be removed and others added. Banjos 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. For questions and comments, please contact me (Bill Destler) at bill.destler"at"rit.edu.(substitute @ for "at").
If an instrument has a price next to it then it is for sale. Contact me at the above email address if you are interested.
Banjos
E. Perry Allen
E. Perry Allen (NY) 5-string banjo Circa 1890's
Bacon
Bacon "Professional FF Special" 5-string banjo, Circa 1913
Bacon “Professional FF” 5-string banjo Circa 1915
Bacon "Orchestra" No. 2 Special 5-string banjo, S/N 5716, Circa 1920
Bacon "Professional Special Grand Concert", S/N 7252, Circa 1920
Boyden
B.E. Boyden "The Boyden" 5-string banjo, Circa 1891
Buckbee
J. H. Buckbee (unmarked) 5-string banjo, Circa 1895
J. H. Buckbee (Waldorf?) 5-string banjo, Circa 1895 (pearl fingerboard)
J.H. Buckbee 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" 5-string banjeaurine, S/N 2541, Circa 1894
W. A. Cole “Eclipse” 5-string banjo model 2500, S/N 3197, Circa 1895
W. A. Cole 5-string ladies' banjo, model 1500, S/N 3425, Circa 1895
W. A. Cole “Eclipse” 5-string banjo model 5000, S/N 3600, Circa 1895
W. A. Cole “Eclipse” 5-string banjo, model 3000, S/N 3670, Circa 1895
W. A. Cole “Eclipse” 5-string banjo model 4000, S/N 3959, Circa 1900
W. A. Cole 5-string banjo, S/N 4183, model 2000, Circa 1900
W. A. Cole 5-string banjo, S/N 6628, Circa 1900
Cubley
E. J. Cubley 5-string fretless banjo, Circa 1880
E. C. Dobson
E.C. Dobson 5-string banjo, Circa 1890's
G. C. Dobson
George C. Dobson “Victor-Gem” 5-string banjo Circa 1880’s
George C. Dobson "Victor-Concert" 5-string banjo, Circa 1880's
H. C. Dobson
H.C. Dobson 6-string banjo Circa 1882
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
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 (Stetson?) 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 “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 & Cole
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 "Expert" 5-string banjo S/N 8600, Circa 1888
Fairbanks & Cole “Imperial” 5-string banjorine, S/N 9543, Circa 1889
Farland
A. A. Farland “Artist’s Grand" No.2, 5-string banjo Circa 1902
A. A. Farland “Artist’s Grand" No.2, 5-string cello banjo Circa 1902
Farris
J. Farris “E&F Tenor Banjay”, Amateur Grade 2-1/2, Circa 1880’s
Carl Fischer
Carl Fischer 5-string banjo, Circa 1905
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 317,Circa 1890
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
Karnolt
Wm. Karnolt 5-string banjo, Circa 1893
Lewis
E. D. Lewis "Champion" 5-string banjo, Circa 1880's
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, S/N 526, Circa 1892
"George Washburn" 5-string banjo, model 421 custom, 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 “Professional” 5-string banjo, Circa 1897
"George Washburn" 5-string banjo, S/N1095, Circa 1897
"George Washburn" Improved model 5100 5-string banjo, S/N 8295, Circa 1915
Magez
J. Magez fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1870's
Morrison
Jas. Morrison (unmarked) 5-string banjo, Circa 1880's
Jas. Morrison (1882 patent) 5-string banjo, Circa 1880's
Jas. Morrison (1882 patent) 5-string banjo, S/N 271, Circa 1880's
Jas. Morrison (unmarked) banjeaurine, Circa 1890
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 #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
Rickett
Joseph Rickett 5-string banjo. S/N 6827, Circa 1890’s
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 (unmarked) 5-string banjo Circa 1890
J.B. Schall (Denzel) “Peerless” 5-string banjo Circa 1895
S. S. Stewart
S.S. Stewart "Orchestra" fretless 5-string banjo, S/N 3321, Circa 1887
S.S. Stewart "Universal Favorite" 5-string banjo, S/N 3338, Circa 1887
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 “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 "Imperial Banjeaurine" No. 3, S/N 14576, Circa 1894
S.S. Stewart “Universal Favorite” No. 1, 5-string banjo, S/N 14955, 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 "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
S.S. Stewart “Acme Professional-University Glee” 5-string banjo, Circa 1900
Stewart’s Sons
S.S. Stewart’s Sons “4S” 5-string banjo, S/N 4806,
model no. 332, Circa 1905
Thompson & Odell (including Luscomb banjos)
Thompson & Odell 5-string banjo, S/N 1930, 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
Upcott
Upcott fretless piccolo 6-string banjo, Circa 1870's
Vega-Fairbanks
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) "Senator" No. 1, 5-string pony banjo, S/N 25917, Circa 1909
A.C. Fairbanks (by Vega) "Tubaphone" #9, 5-string banjo, S/N 27062, Circa 1911
Weymann
Weymann 5-string banjo Circa 1900’s
Weymann "Keystone State" 5-string banjo SN 15137, Circa 1917
Unmarked, Minstrel, and Folk-Art Banjos
Unmarked fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1867
Unmarked fretless 5-string banjo Circa 1870
Unmarked fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1870's
Unmarked fretless 5-string banjo Circa 1870's
Tambourine folk-art fretless banjo Circa 1882
Unmarked fretless banjo Circa 1880's
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
S. S. Stewart tenor guitar, Circa 1905
Unlabeled (but probably Lyon & Healy/Washburn) guitar, Circa 1910
Gindlesberger harp guitar, Circa 1911
Mandolins
Washburn mandolin SN 59004, Circa 1897, model no.175
Stewart and Bauer mandolin Circa 1900
Washburn mandolin SN, Circa 1905, model no.250
Stahl (made by Larson brothers) Mandolin, Circa 1915
Weymann Mandolute, No. 75, S/N 28962, Circa 1920
C. F. Martin mandolin B-11313, circa 1923
Miscellaneous
Lachenal English concertina, SN 43576, Circa 1890
C. F. Martin “style 1” ukulele, Circa 1925
Rolmonica player harmonica, Circa 1929
Interested in old
banjos and other vintage instruments? 
If so, go to Mugwumps.com for lots of info and links to other related sites.
