In 1926

Stewart re-joined Marks. By then the tenor banjo boom was in full swing so Marks figured to get in on the game and used the Stewart name on the "Fred Stewart Magictone" tenor banjo.By 1894 his factory was turning out really first class instruments by the hundreds (priced from as low as $10 to as high as $200) and he had an agency in every town in the country as well as selling to agents in countries all over the world.  At different times he kept full page advertisement running in “The New York Clipper”  and he did a lot to make America “banjo conscious”.  Demand for Stewart banjos far exceeded production for some years.

At the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 he had a display of banjos and the catalogue for the Exposition stated: “SS Stewart’s banjo manufactory in Church Street, Philadelphia, is the only establishment of its kind in the world – the largest and most complete banjo manufactory in existence”.  It conceded the fact that there were other larger factories making banjos but added that they also made other instruments. “Stewart’s factory only made banjos” it proclaimed.

Stewart was the first maker to strengthen the banjo neck with inlays of hardwood set on the cross grain to prevent warping.  He once said “on my banjos I claim no new inventions nor have I any patents connected therewith. I do claim an improved and more perfected banjo, secured by processes of manufacture; some of which remain secrets of my own and which to attempt to protect by letters of patent would merely place part of my knowledge in the hands of others”.

It is interesting to note that in the late 1890’s Francis Beddard, an Englishman, settled in Philadelphia and secured employment in the Stewart factory.  He returned to England in 1901 and made the first “John Grey” banjos for Barnett Samuel & Son Ltd.

On 1st January 1898 SS Stewart merged with George Bauer, mandolin and guitar maker, and the firm of Stewart & Bauer opened a new factory at 1414/1412 North 6th St., Philadelphia, with Stewart’s eldest son Frederick S. taking up a position in the office.  On 6th April of the same year Stewart died of apoplexy and three years later the firm failed.

George Bauer then formed his own company and the Bauer Company of 726/730 Girard Avenue, produced “Stewart” banjos “made on the original models and designs in the original Stewart Factory” but, despite the announcement that “every effort to maintain the high standard of these celebrated instruments would be made” inferior materials were used and the instruments did not sell.  In 1920 Marks bought out Stern.

Fred J Stewart had joined Jos. W Stern & Co of 34 East 21st St., New York City, when Stewart & Bauer had failed and Stern’s started to produce the SS Stewart’s Son Improved “4S” banjos. At prices ranging from $9 to $65 the instruments were said to be made under the personal supervision of Fred J Stewart. They were advertising this instrument for at least three years but no later mention has been found.

In August 1914 Buegeleison & Jacobsen of New York City announced that they had bought the “patent rights” of the Stewart banjo and would resume the manufacture of banjos bearing the SS Stewart name but these instruments were mass produced factory made banjos and did not compare in quality or tone to the original Stewart instruments made in Philadelphia.  Buegeleison & Jacobsen ceased to make banjos when America entered the 2nd WorldWar. In 1926

Stewart re-joined Marks. By then the tenor banjo boom was in full swing so Marks figured to get in on the game and used the Stewart name on the "Fred Stewart Magictone" tenor banjo.