vintagebanjo.redbubble.com We've got banjo-themed t-shirts and sweatshirts, stickers and magnets, notebooks, cushions, phone cases, water bottles and cups, bags, backpacks and hats, and an apron. What more could you want? All purchases will support the running costs and research efforts of VBM, and you'll have a lovely banjo gift for someone else or yourself! Come on over and take a look at vintagebanjo.redbubble.com and look out for regular special offers and discounts. Everything is printed and posted in a country near you, so worldwide delivery is available.

Apologies for being away and thanks to our resident designer Ginny for putting the site back together. Our website host was taken over, then subbed out to someone else. Needless to say it has taken ages to find where it ended up and get it back online. In honey news... while we have been away we have been working on a massive project in Africa called ApiTrace. The whole of Africa contributes just 0.15% of the worlds honey exports as 98% is produced domestically, mostly by women and girls, and we are bringing the market for their honey to the rural community. Drop us an email if you want to receive regular updates, or visit www.bee.watch, www.theafricapicultureconsortium.org www.beespace.xyz. The project meets 14 of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals. "bzzzz... VBM website is around here somewhere..." Photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash

We get all sorts of feedback from people, mostly friendly and Michael Wright, rightly wanted to put right the middle S in S S Stewart. The name Swaim first appears among the early Vikings who arrived and settled in Scotland in the medieval era. It’s derived from the Old English personal name Swein, originating from the Old Norse name Sveinn. Stewart is of Scottish origin from the old English word stigeweardmeaning “hall” “warden” and hence latterly the word steward. Michael also sent us a picture of the SS Stewart factory in Philly taken in 2011, Stewart's buildings being those with the grey-painted facade. This is just off N. 2nd Street in Old City. You could travel London looking for the premises of old makers like Dallas, Essex, Weaver, Scarth or Temlett but the blitz destroyed so much of these historic buildings and their makers records.

Item List Baldwin Read More

Item List AV & Co Read More

AV & Co < Back AV & Co AV Ebblewhite established a wholesale and retail musical merchandise establishment and between the years 1901 and 1918 they sold (as wholesalers and retailers) a great number of zither banjos bearing the name of AV & Co as maker but these were made by Arthur Windsor, (Birmingham, a personal friend of Ebblewhite), Wilmshurst (of London) and Matthew (of Birmingham). October 2012: It is clear that Ebblewhite exported a lot of Windsor Banjos under the brand name of "Challenge" bearing all the characteristics of Windsor made banjos including; the standard Windsor Popular plain "paddle" peg head, the inlay pattern (see Barnes & Mullins as well) but most typical of all, the chromed steel friction pegs which worked reliably and well. These banjos were made to a price and often had very thin ebony veneer for fretboards while Barnes & Mullins and other customers of Windsor specified 5/32nd" or thicker for their better banjos. Pictures courtesy of Intermountain Guitar and Banjo Previous Next