Weymann The firm of HA Weymann & Son of 923 Market Street, Philadelphia Pa., was established in 1864 as makers of stringed instruments. As early as 1903 they were advertising themselves as music dealers and manufacturers of the celebrated “Keystone” mandolins, banjos and guitars. In February 1917 they were incorporate and moved to 1108 Chestnut Street and it was soon after this that thy commenced to make the range of banjos by which they became known all over the world. These instruments were of a type in which wood played a major part. The hoops were made entirely of wood, built up in two separate sections (upper and lower) of ten laminations, and tapered internally to give what was claimed to be a “megaphonic effect” . The brackets for tightening the vellum passed through the lower section of the hoop which protruded enough to take them. The range was called “Orchestral” instruments and were fitted with a patent “combination neck brace and adjuster” and special Weymann “Four to One” (registered) centre-gear tuning pegs. In addition they had a “Patented Tone Resonator” (fitted to the banjo hoop by felt covered spring clamps) which had a fretwork designed metal flange connected to its upper edge. By 1928 the firm had moved to Tenth & Filbert Streets, Philadelphia and its subtlety renamed “Orchestra” banjos ranged in price from $140 to $420 while its “Keystone State” range (fitted with non-detachable resonators) were priced from $35 to $85. The firm seems to have stopped manufacturing banjos in the early 1930’s. Pictures of banjo-ukulele courtesy of Smakulas Fretted Instruments Pictures of 5 string & tenor courtesy of Steve Prior Next Maker

In 1897 Messrs Rettburg and Lange took over the factory and banjo making plant of J H 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. Rettburg & Lange Next Maker

References to a John Jones, of Lea Bridge Road, London, as a "lone" maker of banjos have been discovered but apart from the fact that he died in the 1920s and his workshop was in the garden of his house, nothing else has been unearthed except that making banjos was his full-time occupation. How and where he sold the banjos he made is not known. November 2012: John Jones (b 1861 in Bethnel Green) and his son John CA Jones (b 1884 in Bethnel Green) were both resident, in 1911, at 196 Lea Bridge Road and both recorded as chairmakers. John Jones 1861 to .. Do you have a pre 1940's banjo by this maker? can you supply us some images? next maker