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Baldwin next maker In October 1966 it was announced that the Baldwin Piano and Organ Company of Cincinnati, OH, had bought the Ode Banjo Company of Boulder, Colorado. The Ode Factory at Boulder, With Mel Placke as Plant Manager and Charles Ogsbury as consultant continue to make the banjos in three styles sold under the name of Baldwin through the companies guitar division. Pictures courtesy of Intermountain Guitar & Banjo

In the Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC there is a banjo made by Fred Mather of New York City, in 1860. It has incised lines on the fingerboard to indicate frets with lettering at the frets giving the names of the notes to be found there. The instrument is fitted with machine heads with a single one fitted at the side of the neck for the fifth string. The hoop is fitted with twenty brackets . Nothing else is known of Fred Mather and it is not known if he was a commercial maker or not. Fred Mather Do you have a pre 1940's banjo by this maker? can you supply us some images? next maker

... who was making violins and guitars in Soho between 1827 and 1835, is said to have made banjos commercially but no details have been unearthed. December 2012: Joseph's brother George Panormo (b 1771 d 1852) and the latter's son George (b 1821 ) were musical instrument makers based in New Compton Street, Finsbury, Middlesex. In 1864 "Edward Panormo's Banjo Tutor " was published by Joseph's son Edward (b 1817) who was listed in the 1861 census as a Musician living in Paddingto n. For more information on the Panormo's visit Southwell Guitars Joseph Panormo 1767 to 1837 Do you have a pre 1940's banjo by this maker? can you supply us some images? next maker

... was a teacher and player of the banjo who was born in Twillingate, Newfoundland, and c ame to England before 1871. He established a successful teaching connection in London and became well known for his public performances and contributions to fretted instrument publications. He was the author of "The Brewster Banjoist" and compiled “Howard’s Banjo Tutor” and “Chappell's New Banjo 'Tutor”. He was a skilled wood-worker and in 1873 set up a small workshop in London's Oxford Street with John E. Dallas (q.v.). In 1884 he was described by SS Stewart as his "Sole Agent in England" at 20 Oxford Street. In 1896 he was granted a patent pertaining to zither-banjo construction in conjunction with Richard Langham but all the banjos and zither banjos he sold bearing his name as maker were actually made for him in the workshops of John E. Dallas. He died in Paris on August 15th, 1912. Images of Brewster patent zither banjo courtesy of David Buck John Edward Brewster 1853 to 1912 next maker

John Farris next maker ... of Hartford Conneticut, USA was in business in the latter half of the 19th C. Referring to his banjos in writing as “banjays” he patented a new instrument in April 1885. From the patent #US315135 in which he states “This is a stringed instrument having some points of similarity to the banjo, and some other points of similarity to the mandolin, and some other points entirely new and widely differing as a whole from every prior instrument known to me.” it would appear he was the first to use the term “Banjolin” for a banjo-mandolin. In his 5 stringed instruments he utilised a slotted peg head and guitar style open geared 5th string tuner. Images courtesy of Jerry Mc Hugh

.. the Liverpool firm of musical instrument manufactures and dealers established in 1828 and they introduced a line of zither-banjos in 1910 using the brand name of "Apollo." The instruments were not made by them but were constructed to their specifications (probably by Windsor or Matthew of Birmingham In the early 1920s, the dance band boom induced them to launch their “Ardetone"(R-D-tone) plectrum-banjos and tenor-banjos which were styled on the American "Paramount" instruments. (probably made for them by Dallas /Jedson ) With only slight modifications these later banjos are very ( very ) good copies of the instruments from N America with superior hardware. Edwin Rushworth born in Manchester in 1837 Pictures of an Ardetone Supreme courtesy of Steve Prior Rushworth & Dreaper Ltd next maker

Included in a list of banjo manufacturers in the June 1928 issue of “The Crescendo” is the Progressive Musical Instrument Corporation of New York City. They were shown as the makers of the “Perfecktone” and “Gordon” banjos but nothing else is known about the company. Progressive Do you have a pre 1940's banjo by this maker? can you supply us some images? next maker

In the late 1950’s we learn of Art Gariepy of 46 East Market Street, Long Beach, California, USA, making high end banjos with ornate carved heels and peg heads and high decorated resonators. Trading as Gariepy Banjos, in 1962, he announced that he had taken over “the manufacture of van Eps classical flush fret banjos” but within three years he sold out to the Fender Co. and started to produce banjos for them. Images courtesy of Carl Schilt Art Gariepy next maker

The Fred Gretsch Mfg. Co. was formed by Friederich Gretch (who Anglicised his name after settling in America) at the age of 27 when he left his job of working for the drum and banjo makers Albert Houdlett & Son of Brooklyn, NY. With a few workmen he opened small shop at 128 Middleton Street Brooklyn and manufactured drums, banjos and tambourines. Fred senior died in 1885 when his firm had but a dozen employees and was housed in a wooden building in S. 4th Street, Brooklyn. Within five years his son Fred (eldest of seven children) had impressively altered the firms operations to include the making of mandolins, and in addition, the importation of most musical instruments and their various accessories. The also had acquired impressive factory premises at 104 Middle Street, which were vacated in 1916 for the mammoth 10 story office and factory building the firm had specially built for them at 60 Broadway, Brooklyn, which is still the home of the Fred Gretsch Mfg. Co. They had been making and advertising banjos from about 1870 and in 1902 introduced “Daynor” banjos each of which had a hole in the vellum. After WWI they made a range of banjos with the trade name “Rex” and these were being advertised well in to the 1920’s. By 1928 their range of banjos had been extended for the company was advertising their “Gretsch”, “Claraphone” and “Orchestrella” models in addition to the popular “Rex” range. In addition to this they were making banjos for many other brand names, notably Wurlitzer and Bruno . In March 1940 the company acquired the Bacon Banjo Co . of Groton. Conn. and the post war range of “B&D” banjos was made by them. During the the 50s and 60s they made the Belmont model in regular and long neck versions . Images courtesy of Teddy Lee Wolf 1926 Orchestrella images courtesy of Vinnie Mondello 1929 Orchestrella images courtesy of Bob Ervin Fred Gretsch to 1885 next maker

In 1856 Oliver Ditson employed Haynes to lead the formers move into musical instrument manufacture by setting up the the John C Haynes Company to make a range of fretted instruments. Ditson died in 1888, Haynes took over the business and by 1892 he was advertising "The Lewis Banjo" as "endorsed by the best players". By1895 guitars and mandolins made by Haynes new venture "The Bay State Company" were being sold by the F J Martin Company of Kansas City, and by 1897, it was stated in an American magasine, the products of this company had received "27 awards at the principle Expositions" and that in June of that year the company had "taken on several new hands" to comply with the demands for their well-known instruments. The name of "Bay State" was used by John C Haynes & Co of 453-464 Washington Street and 33 Count Street, Boston, Mass. and the first advertisements for Bay State banjos appears in 1903; the instruments being sold by firms in Boston, New York & Philadelphia. John C Haynes next maker

C E Leslie (Charles Eddy) (1845 - 1893) established The CE Leslie Music Company of 225 Dearbourn Street, Chicago with his wife. They started the Chicago Music Company who were “ publishers and dealers in Musical Merchandise” based at 150 Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois as a retail outlet for their publishing company. He was noted as the manager of the book department in 1887 and they subsequently they moved to Nos. 195-197 and by 1893 had moved again to No. 260 Wabash Ave.. It is assumed that he was the owner but his wife also worked in the business from its early days, had her own copyrights and published music books and scores which specialised in singing instruction. The busines appears to have continued for a year after his death Images courtesy of Dennis Rowntree Chicago Music Company 1880 - 1894 next maker

... was born in Accrington, Lancashire and became a music teacher and retailer of banjos. At 18 years of age Will Birch became Emile Grinshaw's (who was aged12 years at the time) banjo teacher. Little else is known about this maker/retailer except the details on a high end zither banjo, Will Birch, Accrington, Importer . However this very same banjo was also available branded "Barnes & Mullins No 1 Perfect " , probably made by either Windsor or Dallas . John "Will" Birch 1874 to... next maker