How To Identify A No Name Banjo

In 1883, Henry Tallmadge received patent #288679 for this unique head tightening arrangement. They accept been found on banjos begetting his name and on no-name instruments. This is one possibly you lot can assistance with. The intertwined letters could exist L&H. Lyon & Healy advertised a Star brand banjo circa 1890. Anyone accept a banjo with this mark that'south clearer? Stromberg-Voisinet, established in Chicago as the Groeschl Company, they changed the name in 1890. Not to be confused with the Boston Strombergs, they manufactured a line of low to medium form fretted instruments for jobbers and wholesalers. The cast flange with its alternate perforation pattern is a clear indicator of these banjos. In 1931 they changed the visitor name to Kay. Slingerland, while in business organisation making drums from 1916 until the present, merely made banjos from circa 1918 to 1944 and seems to have produced the bulk of educatee and mid-range instruments during that flow. This peghead is found on tenor, plectrum and five string models, often with no name at all. If present, the Slingerland name volition commonly be found stamped on the strut while the seller's proper name, if any, will normally be on the peghead. Maybell was a Slingerland make name. This peghead is plant on low cease, plough of the century, Lyon & Healy banjos, oft with the L&H or Mystic make stamped into the strut. Many have no identification at all. Most have the patented L&H tailpiece shown in the inset. These shoes are shown in an 1890s Washburn banjo catalog, on low end models with simple peghead shapes. Many seen have no identification at all. Likewise, the tailpiece on this banjo is a patent assigned to Lyon & Healy, further suggesting them equally the makers. Tailpieces were sold equally afterwards-market products and are easily transferred from one banjo to another, so do non establish "proof" but they are often suggestive. This integrated shoe and flange, patented in the 1930s, is found on low end tenor and plectrum banjos made by the Regal Company of Chicago, IL. No 5-string models have been seen. This shape is sometimes seen with the Male monarch or Clarophone proper noun, both Gretsch company brands, on student form banjos, just about ofttimes with no maker or brand designation.. They were the likely maker, but it is possible that in the 30s they farmed the piece of work out and simply labeled the instruments. A similar peghead design is found on Gretsch'due south all metallic rim sold variously equally the Orchestrella and the American. This peghead is often seen on banjos, guitars and mandolins. Sometimes marked Former Kraftsman, Kay Kraft, plus variations and others, simply merely as often with no proper noun at all. They were made by the Kay Company, Chicago, IL, who were in business 1931 to 1968 making student course instruments for the most part. Many 1940s and '50s banjos came out of the Gretsch factory with different or sometimes no markings at all. This resonator appears on many of them, sometimes with a minor variation in the audio holes in the flange. Merely the printing on style is a stiff indicator that Gretsch was the maker. This peghead is constitute on banjos, oft with no name at all, simply sometimes with whatsoever of several other names. They were made past the Kay Company, Chicago, IL, or their predecessor Stormberg-Voisenet. This resonator is found on banjos, frequently with no name at all, but sometimes with any of several other names. As with the in a higher place peghead, hey were made by the Kay Visitor, Chicago, IL, or their predecessor Stormberg-Voisenet. This peghead was found on a banjo with a Harmony Company, Chicago, IL, label. Often they are unmarked from the beginning or the decal rubs off. Encounter next resonator. This resonator was found on a banjo with a Harmony Company, Chicago, IL, characterization. See label.

Cheers to everybody who provided information and pictures.

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