Welcome to

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 1840’s to the 1920’s. As my collection evolves, banjos presented on the home page of this site may be removed and added to a "banjos I previously owned" page. Banjos in my current collection 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. Also, click here for an example of how one can go too far to restore a banjo. For questions and comments, please contact me (Bill Destler) at bill.destler"at"rit.edu.(substitute @ for "at").

Banjos

Bacon

Bacon "Professional FF" No. 3 (chubby dragon) 5-string banjo, S/N 99, Circa 1906

Bacon "Professional FF" No 2, 5-string banjo, S/N 461, Circa 1909

Bacon "Professional FF Special" 5-string banjo, Circa 1913

Bacon "Professional FF Special Grand Concert", 5-string banjo, Circa 1913

Boucher

W.E. Boucher, Jr. fretless 5-string banjo, XXII, Circa 1848

W.E. Boucher, Jr. fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1850

Buchanan

Buchanan's "Improvement" 5-string banjo, Circa 1928?

Buckbee

J.H. Buckbee "National Favorite" 5-string banjo, Circa 1895

Burkard

W. N. Burkard 5-string pony banjo Circa 1890's

Cole

W. A. Cole 5-string banjo, S/N 163, Circa 1890

W. A. Cole "Eclipse" (Bird) 5-string banjo, S/N 597, Circa 1891

W. A. Cole "Eclipse" 5-string banjeaurine, S/N 2541, Circa 1895

W. A. Cole “Eclipse” 5-string banjo model 2500, S/N 3197, Circa 1896

W. A. Cole “Eclipse” 5-string banjo model 5000, S/N 3600, Circa 1897

W. A. Cole “Eclipse” 5-string banjo, model 3000, S/N 3670, Circa 1897

W. A. Cole “Eclipse” 5-string banjo model 4000, S/N 3959, Circa 1897

W. A. Cole 5-string banjo, S/N 4183, model 2000, Circa 1898

W. A. Cole "Eclipse" 5-string banjo, S/N 5333, model 3500, Circa 1900

W. A. Cole banjo-mandolin, S/N 6604, Circa 1904

Cubley

E. J. Cubley 5-string fretless banjo, Circa 1880

G. H. Daniels

G.H. Daniels 5-string fretless banjo, Circa 1870's

C. E. Dobson

C. E. Dobson "Great Echo" 5-string banjo, S/N 255, Circa 1888

G. C. Dobson

George C. Dobson "Victor" 5-string bano, Circa 1880's.

George C. Dobson "Victor-Professional" 5-string banjo, Circa 1880's

George C. Dobson "Victor-Concert" 5-string banjo, Circa 1880's

George C. Dobson "Victor-Regal" 5-string banjo, Circa 1880's

H. C. Dobson

H.C. Dobson fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1867

H.C. Dobson fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1878

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

A. F. Eibel (Malden, MA) 5-string banjo Circa 1890's

A. F. Eibel (Malden, MA) 5-string banjo Circa 1890's

Fairbanks & Cole

Fairbanks & Cole flush fret 5-string banjo, S/N 1301, Circa 1881

Fairbanks & Cole guitar-banjo, S/N 1318, Circa 1881

Fairbanks & Cole "Clipper" 5-string banjo, S/N 1700, Circa 1881

Fairbanks & Cole "Imperial" 5-string banjo, S/N 6780, Circa 1885

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 "Imperial" 5-string banjo, S/N 8246, Circa 1888

Fairbanks & Cole "Expert" 5-string banjo S/N 8600, Circa 1888

Fairbanks & Cole "Imperial" 5-string banjo, S/N 8654, Circa 1888

Fairbanks & Cole “Imperial” 5-string banjorine, S/N 9543, Circa 1889

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 “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 “Electric” 5-string banjo, S/N 16432, 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 19333, Circa 1899

A. C. Fairbanks “Senator No. 1” 5-string banjo, S/N 21028, Circa 1901

A.C. Fairbanks “Whyte Laydie” No. 7, 5-string banjo, S/N 22616, Circa 1903

A. C. Fairbanks “Imperial Electric" No. 0, 5-string banjo, S/N 23078, Circa 1904

Fairbanks (by Vega)

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) "Tubaphone" #9, 5-string banjo, S/N 25516, Circa 1909

A.C. Fairbanks (by Vega) "Senator" No. 1, 5-string banjorine, S/N 25917, Circa 1909

A.C. Fairbanks (by Vega) "Tubaphone" #3, 5-string banjo, S/N 26126, Circa 1910

Farland

A. A. Farland “Artist’s Grand" No.2, 5-string banjo Circa 1902

Farris

J. Farris “E&F Tenor Banjay”, Amateur Grade 2-1/2, Circa 1880’s

Gatcomb

L. B. Gatcomb “Gatcomb’s Award” model 75, 5-string banjo, S/N 4471, Circa 1890

L. B. Gatcomb "Gatcomb Standard" model 35, 5-string banjo, S/N 4742, Circa 1890

Haynes

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

Lyon & Healy (including Washburn banjos)

"George Washburn" 5-string banjo, model 421 custom, Circa 1892

"George Washburn" 5-string ladies banjo, model 421 custom, S/N 390, Circa 1892

"George Washburn" 5-string banjo, model 442, S/N 328, Circa 1892

Lyon & Healy "Mystic" piccolo flush-fret 5-string banjo, Circa 1897

"George Washburn" 5-string banjo, S/N1095, Circa 1897

"George Washburn" (by Cole) 5-string banjo, S/N 6, Circa 1900

"George Washburn" Improved model 565, 5-string banjo, S/N 8027, Circa 1915

"George Washburn" Improved model 5100, 5-string banjo, S/N 8295, Circa 1915

Magez

J. Magez fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1870's

J. Magez fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1870's

Morrison

Jas. Morrison (1882 patent) 5-string banjo, S/N 271, Circa 1880's

Quinlan

J.E. Quinlan 5-string banjo, Circa 1890's

Rettberg & Lange (including Orpheum banjos)

"Orpheum #2", 5-string banjo, S/N 3876, Circa 1915

"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

Robinson

Robinson (by Fairbanks) 5-string banjo, Circa 1900

Robinson (by Fairbanks), grade 2, 5-string banjo, Circa 1900

Rudolph

F. Rudolph 5-string fretless banjo, Circa 1870's

J. B. Schall

J.B. Schall (unmarked) fretless 5-string banjo Circa 1880

J.B. Schall 5-string banjo Circa 1895

J.B. Schall 5-string banjo Circa 1895

J.B. Schall (Denzel) “Peerless” 5-string banjo Circa 1895

S. S. Stewart

S.S. Stewart fretless presentation banjo, S/N 2073, Circa 1866

S.S. Stewart "Universal Favorite" flush-fret 5-string banjo, S/N2865, Circa 1886

S.S. Stewart "Orchestra" fretless 5-string banjo, S/N 3321, Circa 1887

S.S. Stewart "Universal Favorite" No. 2, 5-string banjo, S/N 3593, Circa 1887

S.S. Stewart "Orchestra" 5-string banjo, S/N 4011, Circa 1888

S.S. Stewart "Lady Stewart" 5-string banjo, S/N 4944, Circa 1899

S.S. Stewart "Universal Favorite" No. 3, S/N 5522, Circa 1890

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 "Pony Concert" banjo, S/N 6670, Circa 1891

S.S. Stewart "Champion" presentation 5-string banjo, S/N 7501, Circa 1891

S.S. Stewart "American Princess" custom 5-string banjo, S/N 8819, Circa 1891

S.S. Stewart custom presentation 5-string banjo, S/N 9217, Circa 1892

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 "Universal Favorite" No. 4, 5-string banjo, S/N 11973, Circa 1893

S.S. Stewart "Orchestra" No. 4, 5-string banjo, S/N 13455, Circa 1893

S.S. Stewart "Imperial Banjeaurine" No. 3, S/N 14576, Circa 1894

S. S. Stewart “Specialty” No. 4, 5-string banjo, S/N 15236, Circa 1894

S. S. Stewart "Orchestra" No. 3, 5-string banjo, S/N 15681, 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 5-string "Cello" banjo, S/N 62758, Circa 1898

S.S. Stewart "Special" 5-string banjo, S/N 69404, Circa 1900

Stratton & Handley

Stratton & Handley (by Cole) 5-string banjo, Circa 1895

Stratton & Handley (by Cole) 5-string banjeaurine, Circa 1895

Stetson

Stetson (by Fairbanks) 5-string presentation ladies banjo, S/N 15043, Circa 1895

Stetson (by Fairbanks) 5-string banjo, Circa 1897

Talmadge

H.C. Talmadge 5-string banjo, Circa 1883

Teel

G.S.W. Teel fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1880's

G.S.W. Teel "Eureka" 5-string banjo, S/N 64, Circa 1880's

Teed

George Teed 6-string banjo, Circa 1870

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

Todd

William A. Todd 5-string banjeaurine, Circa 1891

Turner

J.M. Turner 5-string banjo, Circa 1890

Weymann

Weymann 5-string banjo Circa 1900’s

Wilkes

F.C. Wilkes 5-string banjo, Circa 1900 (pearl fingerboard)

Windsor

A. O. Windsor 7-string banjo, Circa 1895 (presentation grade)

A. O. Windsor "Stage" fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1890's

Unmarked, Minstrel, and Folk-Art Banjos

Unmarked fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1860

Unmarked fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1865

Unmarked fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1867

Unmarked fretless 5-string banjo Circa 1870

Unmarked flush-fret 5-string banjo Circa 1870's

Unmarked fretless 5-string banjo, Circa 1870's

Unmarked fretless 5-string banjo Circa 1870's

Unmarked top-tension 5-string banjo Circa 1880

Unmarked bass banjo Circa 1890

Other Vintage Instruments

Guitars

C. F. Martin guitar, 0-42, S/N 12929, Circa 1916

C.F. Martin “D-28” guitar, S/N 215397,Circa 1966

Mandolins

Gibson F4 “torch and wire” mandolin, S/N 5713, Circa 1906

Stahl (made by Larson brothers) Manndolin, Circa 1915

Wurlitzer mandolin, Circa 1915

Gibson K-1 mandocello, Circa 1916

Weymann Mandolute, No. 75, S/N 28962, Circa 1920

Gibson F4 mandolin, S/N 69266, Circa 1921

Unmarked (probably Lyon & Healy mandolin, Circa 1922

C. F. Martin mandolin B-11313, circa 1923

C. F. Martin mandolin, E-13218, Circa 1926

Miscellaneous

Lachenal English concertina, SN 43576, Circa 1890

Tanzbar player concertina, Circa 1920

C. F. Martin “style 1” ukulele, Circa 1925

Rolmonica player harmonica, Circa 1929

Strohviol violin, Circa 1900