In an article in an 1894 issue of "The Banjo World," it mentions that Wells of Reading (the banjo maker) "has just completed a zither-banjo with a zinc (instead of wood) back." No other details of this instrument or any others by Mr. Wells have been unearthed, but the, quoted article infers he was not an unknown person as a maker of banjos and zither-banjos.

Note:  A Deane was also making 5 string banjos in Caversham on the North  bank of the river Thames at Reading about this time.