I saw these in the Detroit Historical Museum recently and thought they were interesting. Don't think I've seen anything quite like them before and there wasn't any info on them in the display. Google didn't turn up much either. 5 strings, scroll headstock and guitar-like top and soundhole. Pretty cool. Anybody know more about these?
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I found some more information about the strange looking 32 fret French wood top 5 string «resonator» banjo from 1890, with a tunneled drone string and 6 pegs, although only 5 being used, a «zither banjo», see https://creekdontrise.com/acoustic/zither_banjo/zither_banjo.htm.
That French banjo is something else Moritz. 32 frets! That's getting quite close to these, although I still haven't seen any that use the acoustic guitar style bridge/saddle. The Gibson is very cool too - a 1938 electric is very unique I'd say. Thanks again for looking and sharing.
I just heard back from the Detroit Historical Museum and they have forwarded me to a curator who is going to look in their database to see what they can find. I'll keep you posted.
Kind of a museum of used and antique musical instruments is the catalogue on http://www.palmguitars.com/, where the instruments sold or for sale often are documented with a bunch of photos about their details. There I found two all wood banjos:
The instrument of the Appalachia Museum, Clinton, Tennessee, is labelled «banjo lute»: with this term you will find some information on the net. «banjo mandolin» seems to denote a totally different instrument.
On the museum-slideshow you will find some more «all wood banjos», in addition even cigarbox, bedpan and hubcap banjos.
Too cool, Turtlehead! Certainly looks do-able for some of our CBN craftsmen! I may send a copy of your picture to the American Banjo Museum, now located in downtown OKC. Here's a link:
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I found some more information about the strange looking 32 fret French wood top 5 string «resonator» banjo from 1890, with a tunneled drone string and 6 pegs, although only 5 being used, a «zither banjo», see https://creekdontrise.com/acoustic/zither_banjo/zither_banjo.htm.
That French banjo is something else Moritz. 32 frets! That's getting quite close to these, although I still haven't seen any that use the acoustic guitar style bridge/saddle. The Gibson is very cool too - a 1938 electric is very unique I'd say. Thanks again for looking and sharing.
I just heard back from the Detroit Historical Museum and they have forwarded me to a curator who is going to look in their database to see what they can find. I'll keep you posted.
Kind of a museum of used and antique musical instruments is the catalogue on http://www.palmguitars.com/, where the instruments sold or for sale often are documented with a bunch of photos about their details. There I found two all wood banjos:
a French wooden 5 string banjo from 1890, http://www.palmguitars.com/item.html#1799
a Gibson Electric Plectrum Banjo from 1938, http://www.palmguitars.com/item.html#1603
Thanks Gary, I'll be interested if you hear anything. I have an e-mail into the Detroit museum as well.
Good info Moritz, thank you for the links. Some of those are very similar and I was surprised that banjola was such a recent term.
Darn Jim, I figured you'd know something as you were the first video link on Google when I searched wood top banjos ;)
P.S. For this type of instrument, «banjola» seems a quite recent term, check
https://banjolas.com/
The instrument of the Appalachia Museum, Clinton, Tennessee, is labelled «banjo lute»: with this term you will find some information on the net. «banjo mandolin» seems to denote a totally different instrument.
On the museum-slideshow you will find some more «all wood banjos», in addition even cigarbox, bedpan and hubcap banjos.
TH: I reached out to the OKC Museum. Hope to have more to share after they have a look....
Too cool, Turtlehead! Certainly looks do-able for some of our CBN craftsmen! I may send a copy of your picture to the American Banjo Museum, now located in downtown OKC. Here's a link:
http://www.americanbanjomuseum.com/
I don't have any info but they look like cool old instruments.
turtlehead hi, check http://handmademusicclubhouse.com/video/museum-slideshow at 3:19 where you will find a similar instrument