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Stromberg-Voisinet 1890 - 1931 next maker Stromberg-Voisinet started out as the Groeschel Co. in 1890 making mandolins. By the 1920's they we making banjos, ukuleles and guitars and in 1921 the company was incorporated as Stromberg-Voisinet. In 1928 they produced what is recognised as the first electric guitar operating out of 312 Union Park Court, Chacago. The Kay Musical Instrument Company was founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1931 by Henry Kay Kuhrmeyer from the remnants of Stromberg-Voisenet of which he was president 1928. Images courtesy of James Fabian

... of Brixton London, was a teacher, composer and banjo entertainer who started to play the banjo in 1879. He used to advertise that he used only his "own make" of banjo which he was always ready and willing to sell to his pupils and other interested persons. No further details of either Henderson or his banjos have been unearthed although it is known he was still flourishing in 1901. Walter Henderson Do you have a pre 1940's banjo by this maker? can you supply us some images? next maker

Muse Banjos of Jamestown, Star Route, Boulder, Colorado was the same company as Ode . Muse Do you have a pre 1940's banjo by this maker? can you supply us some images? next maker

L Yosco Manufacturing Co. The Iosco familly emigrated from Italy to the US in 1877 and Rocco Lorenzo Iosco (b 1869) changed his name to Lawrence Yosco. He began maufacturing fretted instruments, at the turn of the 20th C and by 1919 had premises at 204 W 34th Street, NY. In that year he was granted a patent on his "double rim" banjo, effectively a resonator with a 3" void built into the rim. While Yosco made Italian style bowl backed mandolins, guitars and 4 string banjos, no 5 string models appear to have been made. Images courtesy of Mike Amato, Bedford Banjo Shop, PA www.bedfordbanjoshop.com next maker

.. from Boston, MASS. A contemporary maker in the style of Fairbanks & Cole during the last decade of the 19th C. It is possible that he at one time worked for them and even sourced some of his components from them. Images by Dave Matchette, courtesy of Elderly Instruments Harry Oakes next maker

A Stanley of Ecclestone St. SW was a maker of Zither banjos in the early 1900's. It is not known if this was A Stanley Senior or Junior. also see see Greeno p Arthur Stanley Do you have a pre 1940's banjo by this maker? can you supply us some images? next maker

In 1897 Messrs Rettburg and Lange took over the factory and banjo making plant of JH Buckbee and established a factory at 383 Second Avenue, New York City. By 1903 they had moved to 115-121 East 13th Street and from this address in 1908 they announced the production of their “Orpheum” range of banjos. Three years later they were able to announce that increasing business had made then seek even larger premises at 225-227 East 24th Street. In January 1915 they advertised their “Brass Band Orpheum” – an new banjo with 29 frets (to high G) . The neck on this instrument was joined to the hoop at the 20th fret with a fret board extension over the velum carrying the extra 9 frets. July 1918 saw the debut of the “Orpheum Plectrum banjo” and a new 5 string with a long fifth string tuned to an octave below the third string (this banjo was similar to the Vega banjo Brent Hayes had played for some years). It was in August 1920 that the company was granted a US patent for its new “Paramount” banjo and this new instrument (designed by William L Lange) made its first appearance in 1921. In 1922 William took over sole control of the company and changed the title to Wm L Lange. In September of that year he announced (as “successor to Rettberg & Lange) six styles of the “Paramount” banjos. “Paramount” banjos became world famous and were much sought after by all the leading dance-band players. The five spacious floors at East 24th Street accommodated over 250 workers making banjos and included its own plating shop. It was during this period that Wm D Bowen tested all banjos leaving the factory. In November 1922 Lange made what was said to be the World’s largest banjo. It was for the Paul Whiteman orchestra and is said to have cost $500. The instrument weighed 35 pounds and was five feet long. The hoop was 24” in diameter and the neck 3 feet long and was playable! In the early part of 1925 the Lange factory bought out a cheaper model instrument with the name of “Langstile” and this incorporated a resonator made of metal and mahogany. Such was the demand for this cheaper instrument that it was produced at a second factory located in Brooklyn where instruments (notably the “Challenger” and the “Artcraft” range) were also made for other manufacturers and retailers to sell. All manufacturing ceased in 1939. The Challenger Melody King and the Challenger Victory were both manufacctured by William Lange the builder of Paramounts, Orpheums, Langstiles, Langecraft, Broadcraft and many more for various stores. The Melody King model was a bottom end professional level model which sold for $135 in the late 20's, $5 more than a Paramount A. Langstile Tenor models, sometimes with a Supertone name were made for Sears by Lange. Images courtesy of Vincent Hadus W M Lange next maker

... of New York City was a banjo-making associate of Charles Morrell around about the 1860’s. Together they went to California during the boom times after the gold rush of 1849. Jan 2014: The attached pictures are from a banjo which is currently under investigation further information to come. Pictures courtesy of Bill Emery Thomas W Bree next maker

From about 1850 the Dobson brothers in America had as much to do with the keeping up of interest in the banjo as anyone. .. except perhaps SS Stewart. As performers, teachers and instrument makers their names became household words wherever the instrument was played even touring the UK in the 1860s. Charles Edgar Dobson was the inventor of the “closed back” banjo based on a design by Henry, which was awarded first prize at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876. The instrument can justifiably be claimed as the forerunner of the closed back zither banjo invented by Temlett and perfected by Cammeyer . It should be noted that Temlett’s close back banjo patent application was never granted. Charles E Dobson 1839 to 1910 next maker

... of 344 Broome Street, New York, N.Y. advertised thenselves as “Manufacturer of High Grade Musical Instruments.” including “Puntolillo’s Famous Banjos”. The were granted a patent on designs for a Tone Chamber in the early 1920's ( June 2nd 1920 ). See Majestic Guitars for more information on this maker Pictures courtesy of Anthony Marchitelli Gaetano Fransisco Puntolillo 1880 .. next maker

... a well-known teacher of the banjo, mandolin and guitar was born in Hove and settled in Brighton, Sussex in 1883. For many years he conducted a successful teaching studio there and led an amateur B. M. & G. orchestra in the seaside town. At the turn of the century he established a teaching studio at John Alvey Turner' s in London which he attended twice a week and for some time he also conducted a London amateur B. M. & G. Orchestra. He was a self-taught player of the banjo, having started to play on seven string instrument. He became well-known as a banjo soloist after he changed to the five-string instrument and until 1893 used a Weaver banjo. He started to play and sell his "own make" banjos but the instruments bearing his name as maker, were made for him by John E.Dallas . Images courtesty of Chris Irving William H Plumbridge 1864 to 1925 next maker

"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 -