Chas F Alberts < Back Chas F Alberts The American Magasine "The Minstrel Tempo" for January 1901 cvarries an advertisment for "Sonoro" guitars, mandolins,and banjos made by Chas F Alberts 205 S 9th Street, Philadelphia. Pa. Apart from a later reference to Alberts beinmg "Phila's Old Reliable Violin House" we know no more. Previous Next

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Ball, Beavon & Co < Back Ball, Beavon & Co .. established a wholesale musical instrument business at 31 Aldermanbury, London, EC in the 1880's and subsequently in Pinder Street, Bishopsgate, London. Although they marketed banjos bearing their name as maker they were made by Matthew and Houghton of Birmingham. They also sold SS Stewart banjos during the 1890's which were stamped on the dowel stick Ball, Beavon & Co London, under the neck clamp, alongside the Stewart label. In the days of the 7-string banjo, they sold an unfretted instrument with 40 brackets on the hoop and fitted with push in pegs. The firm went out of business during the First World War, probably due to the cessation of supplies and of cheap musical instruments and merchandise from the Continent. Images courtesy of Jim Leith Previous Next

Riley - Baker < Back Riley - Baker ... see Joseph Riley Pictures courtesy of Skip Sail Previous Next

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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

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James C Bertolle < Back James C Bertolle 1875 -1951 .. was born in Islington, London in 1875 and his father who was a banjoist taught his son, James Charles, to play the instrument at an early age. By 1897 J C Bertolle was playing duets in public with another banjo player named Heght and a year later organised a banjo club from his pupils. By then he had become a professional photographer with studios at 268 Caledonian Road, London, but managed to give between 30 and 40 banjo lessons every week. In 1898 he formed a playing partnership with Gordan Tait, calling themselves "The Dexters," made their concert debut at a Cammeyer concert. Within a short time they had played at most of the concert halls within fifty miles of London. They were hailed as the "British Mays and Hunter." The instruments they played were "Dexter" banjos sold exclusively by Bertolle who, in his advertisements said he made them - but this is doubtful. It has been found impossible to discover who made the high grade banjos but it could have been Richard Spencer as they have all the features of the early Spencer instruments. No "Dexter" banjos appear to have been sold after about 1930. Note: Bertolle also sold the "B&T" model (Bertolle & Tait), almost certainly made by Clifford Essex staff. Note the bracket nuts inside the pot which are identical to the CE "Imperial" model of the same period .. however it does have the "Spencer" style laminated neck. Similarly the Tester Previous Next

Barnes Brothers < Back Barnes Brothers Towards the end of the 1920’s three engineer brothers named Barnes in the Woolwich area decided to make banjos. They slavishly copied the Essex "Paragon" model and named their product "Paratone." At a superficial glance it was difficult to tell the two makes apart, it is not known when they ceased making banjos. Previous Next

Will Van Allen < Back Will Van Allen 1874 - ...whose real name was William Dodds, was a highly successful Music Hall Artiste who used the banjo in his act at the turn of the 20th century. He used the name William Allen on official records. He was conducting a successful teaching studio at 38 Newington Butts, London, where he was born, but his increasing professional engagements made it necessary for him to finally give up teaching. In 1902 he toured the U.S.A. for twelve months. It is not known when he first started to make banjos, but his first models were called "Revelation", the wood hoop of which was covered by an S-shaped metal casing with a projecting flange at the bottom through which the brackets passed. When he went into partnership with Olly Oakley in 1926 with a shop at 61, Charing Cross Road, London, the “Will Van Allen" banjos, well made modern instruments, appear to have been products of the John G. Abbott workshops. He dissolved his partnership with Olly Oakley in 1929 or 1930 and very few Van Allen banjos appeared to have been sold after this date. Pictures courtesy of Fred Previous Next