In 1881 Thomas William Fowle is recorded as an Instrument Maker in Pheasant Road, Rocherster, Kent  and zither banjos by him have occasionally come onto the market.

10 years later he had moved to 143 King Street and he moved again to 4 King Street Rochester in 1911 when he was widowed.

An Edward J Fowle, possibly a relation was both a musician and teacher working out of 11 Union Street, in nearby Chatham, Kent in 1891.