Item List James C Bertolle 1875 -1951 Read More

Item List Bay State ​ Read More

< Back Riley - Baker ​ ... see Joseph Riley Pictures courtesy of Skip Sail Previous Next

The range of banjos sold under the name of "Broadcaster" were stamped: "Made by J. & A. M. of London." In actual fact they were made by the huge furniture, gramophone and radio company J.& A.Margolin Ltd. The banjos were inexpensive instruments, their wooden hoops being covered with nacrolaque, as were the fingerboards. The metal work (bezel, shoes, brackets, tailpiece, etc.) was of very thin lacquered brass. "Broadcaster" Do you have a banjo by this maker? can you supply us some images? next maker

Dayton banjos were designed and patented in October 1920 by Charles B Rauch who established the Dayton String Instrument Company, in Dayton Ohio and was running a successful teaching business there and conducted the Dayton Mandolin Club. In addition to banjos Rauch made and sold most fretted instruments. In 1922 the Dayton range of banjos was improved by having hoops of curly and birds eye maple. Subsequently Rauch launched the “New Construction Dayton Banjos” which had 12" hoops and were fitted with a round metal perchpole and an extension fingerboard. The 5 string hoops were turned from 12 wood blocks glued in 3 layers. Instead of the normal banjo pegs they were fitted with machine heads as per the guitar. An advertisement of the time mentions a “fine line of tenor banjos, mandolin banjos, guitar banjos, cello banjos and ukulele banjos in this new construction". In 1925 Thomas J Armstrong wrote “Dayton banjos are high in favour” It is not known when the company ceased trading. For more information and pictures go to Tim Canuelle's site "Dayton String Instrument Co." Dayton next maker

< Back Robert H Benary ​ .. was a instrument retailer/maker in New York in the last decade of the 19th C, who's banjo's were probably made by Buckbee. He was issued a patent for a tail piece and around 1895 the company changed its name to the Metropolitan Musical Instrument Co. They marketed both 5, 6 & 7 string banjo's fretted or flush fret under the "Celebrated Benary" name engraved on a plate on the heel. Previous Next

.. in 1881 his son was listed as a Musical Instrument Seller living in Kensington, married with a son and daughter. From 1891 to the turn of the century he was as Musical Instrument Manufacturer living in Fulham where he died in 1911. His unmarried son George Joseph Butler (b1864-1950) carried on the business Manufacturing Musical Instruments. A zither-banjo marked "Butler, Haymarket, London" passed through the hands of A.P Sharpe but no other details of this maker of (or possibly dealer in) musical instruments were discovered at the time (1960s) Images courtest of the estate of Richard Evans George Butler 1798 - 1867 next maker

William Dennis 1860 - next maker .... was born in Hampstead in 1864 and was employed as a musical instrument maker in the 1890’s. Perhaps he learned to make Zither banjos while being employed and then went out on his own .. the inlays are not reminicent of the Birmingham or other London makers, and his makers name on this example was embossed using individual letter punches, so he was probably working on his own at the time. Needless to say W Dennis zither banjos come up from time to time so he must have made a significant number. Images courtesy of Keith Wallis

"Taylor of Liverpool" Born in Retford, Nottinghamshire, to a father who was a sadle and harness maker he initially became a Gun Smith and in 1881 aged 23 he was living in Leeds Yorkshire. The 1891 census shows Walter Taylor at 142 Kirkdale Road, Liverpool, banjo maker and twenty years later with his wife and son as 'assistants in business' Examples of his innovative metal working as well as wood working skills, clearly learned in the Gun Smith trade are evident in his unique instruments. Research courtesy of John Bolton Images of the interesting fretless Taylor banjo courtesy of Richard Evans Imagest of another courtesy of Vic Wilcox both with all metal pots next maker Walter Taylor 1858 -

Item List Will Van Allen 1874 - Read More

Item List Chas F Alberts ​ Read More

< Back Fred J Bacon 1871 to 1948 .. was one of the leading banjo soloists of America, was born in 1871, became a pupil of A A Farland and started his professional career at the age of 16 years. In 1890 he met a lady who was to become his wife and stage partner in tours that for many years took them across the USA from NY to California. In 1908 he opened a studio at Forestdale, Vermont and with the title of "The Bacon Manufacturing Company " first advertised the "Bacon Professional Banjo" which had been made for him by the Vega Co . of Boston Mass. By 1921 he had formed the Bacon Banjo Co. with a factory at Grotton, Conn. to manufacrure instruments that were said to "incorporate the ideas of tone and workmanship by the President Fred J Bacon" . Bacon banjos were in demand and the factory kept working overtime to fulfill orders. On September 18th 1922 David L Day, with 39 years of of experience behind him left the Vega company and joined the Bacon Banjo Co as Vice President and General Manager and sson after the instruments were branded with the "B&D Silver Bell" trade mark. The Depression of 1929 seriously affected the company's business and in 1939 it was taken over by Fred Gretch Mfg. co. Inc. of 60 Broadway Brooklyn, New York. which continued t0 make the "B&D" banjos. Fred Bacon died in 1948 and David L Day in 1956. Find more information at banjoonmyknee.com Pictures courtesy of Smakula's Fretted Instruments Previous Next