[haakon]

this "thing" was my grandfathers. He got it driving a cab, and a passenger could'nt pay him, so my grandfather took his "fiddle" or whateveritis... At least 50 years ago... Always tought it was a mandolin due to the 8strings, but for the rest i dont know...
The front of the body is a drumskin-kinda fabric..
Anyone know where i could find info on this thing? I am thinking about giving it its life back, but we'll see...

 

[jimihendrix]

hey there..i believe it's called a banjolin...the missing crest on the headstock resembles the regal brand logo...i'm still researching the piece... :icon_peac

the body resembles this model...

 

[Guest]

Very interesting :jot:

 

[haakon]

wow, gold medal to you Jimi...!:thumb:
Banjolin...?! (Still laughing!) :grin: Never heard of such a thing..

But it sure is the same instrument. 8 strings, stringed two and two..
where did you find the pic?

 

[haakon]

checked the headstock under a magnifierglass, and the logo on top is a horse with wings. (english word - pegasus ??) Underneath the horse it says; britain made, and with larger letters under there again, bigg, og gibb, or something along th.... At least a four-letter-word...
Very worn down, took me quite a while to determine this much.
does this tell you anything?

 

[jimihendrix]

hey there...from here...http://www.ricsvintageguitars.com/inventory_2.htm
but there are lots of other sites...google banjolin...then click on "images"... :thumb:

p.s. the tuning machines look turn of the century...

 

[haakon]

turn of the century?? ( remember, i'm norwegian.... )

 

[jimihendrix]

1875-1925...it's old man...!!!... :thumb:

 

[haakon]

heyheyhey!!!!:thumb:

what do you know now dude??!!! Tell me, tell me!!:upset:

 

[jimihendrix]

check out the metal ring on this one...i'm getting closer... :thumb:

 

[haakon]

:thumb: :thumb: !!!!!

maaan, i'm impressed, and on the edge of my seat here..!

Been surfing banjolins for a while now,
and it's a new world opening up for me..!!
I have of course only searched Banjos and mandolins earlier, so.... Seems to me theese instruments were big in england and ireland back then, but not so much in the rest of the world.. ? And how/where did you figure out the age?

(And i'm humbled by your engagement..:smirk: )

 

[jimihendrix]

i used to collect vintage guitars...you also have to look up "mandolin banjo"..."ukelele banjo"..."banjo mandolin"...every variation you can think of...
if the frets are brass...it is a pre-war instrument...more to follow.... :thumb:

 

[haakon]

yepp, have read alot already... A lot of "this is the right term, and this is not"-mentality going on......

"A sweet child has many names", we say in norway..

just took theese pics.. Maybe more detailed...

 

[jimihendrix]

those are brass frets...pre-war vintage...the second photo nails it down better...i've come across an exact pic in my search...i'll go back and try to find it... :icon_thum

 

[haakon]

dont forget to drink!!

Whats the time over there anyway? it's soon five in the morning here.. I work nights at a hospital, so i'm not going anywhere.. hehe!
Checking in every 5 min...:rock:

 

[DannyBoy]

haha a banjolin . thats priceless . looks like it could have some interesting tonal qualitites though . ive always fancied trying a banjo or a mandolin .. maybe i should hunt down a banjolin and kill 2 birds with 1 stone :lol:

a banjolina :lol: ... honestly .. what next ? :lol:

 

[jimihendrix]

there are two on this page with the same "v-neck" and heel as yours...same volute at the headstock...and in fact same headstock shape...it mentions the maker as j.g.abbott...that leads to a 4 pages of british makers...most were born in the 1800's...you can read about them here...starting with abbott himself...remember...there are 4 pages...http://www.whitetreeaz.com/vintage/brit1.htm

 

[haakon]

Thats at least a brother!!

skimmed thru it, and there were 'nt too many instrument descriptions..
But i guess it could be from that Windsor-dude wich made massive amounts of instruments up until the war started.. (ww2) It said a great deal of the models overseas, at least in europe, where from this guy...

What do you think, or have you figured out something else? :rock:

 

[jimihendrix]

i'll keep checking in my spare time...i did see one with the exact back of your gear...the metal "button" in the center of the rear of the body...as you can see...there are thousands of pages using different names for the same instrument...but they all say the same thing...the builders were mostly born in the 1800's and generally built this type of instrument up to the second world war...eventually we'll nail the make and model...and value... :thumb:

 

[haakon]

yea, i'll sure keep searching, and i'm in here every day, so i'll keep an eye on this thread... When you said 1875-1925, i kinda woke up, thinking value of course.. Anyway, thanks a lot so far!! till next time-----:rock: