banjolele girl - Posted - 07/09/2013:  14:27:12

Hi, have just inherited an 8 string, brass (I think!) and mother-of-pearl effect (I think) banjolele .  The whole back is this pearl effect . I believe it was my great grandfathers, who lived in Northern Ireland and Scotland at the end of 20th/beginning of 21st century. There are no labels/makers names etc on the instrument or case. I don't play, but my son would like to learn, being quite musical. It would be great if he could play his great great grandfather's instrument :). So I would really like to find out something about this instrument, and wondered if anyone could enlighten me. I know there isn't much to go on ! I've had a look online, but can't find anything similar to my banjolele. More photo's on my album. I don't imagine it to be a collectors piece, but wasn't sure which other topic to put it under.

 Any ideas greatly appreciated. Many thanks

Edited by - banjolele girl on 07/09/2013 14:57:57

Jim Yates - Posted - 07/09/2013:  16:32:36

First of all, I would call this a mandolin banjo, not a banjolele.  Sorry, but I can't help much after that.  I do like the mother of toilet seat on the resonator, pot and fingerboard though.  Good Luck.

chadp - Posted - 07/09/2013:  18:20:32

It's got materials on it that are a bit too new to be turn of the century but they're definitely good enough to place it in the "awesome" category for me personally anyway. take it to a qualified repair guy (try and find someone who at least works on tenor banjos) and have it looked over and loved. Put some light gauge mando strings on it. it's probably a good little instrument

Hawgfiddle65 - Posted - 07/12/2013:  01:59:52

Hi

I've seen some similar uke banjos and tenors online .This might be a brand known as Broadcaster made by J and A Margolin in London in the 1930s. This had extensive mother of toilet seat veneer on the rim , resonator and fingerboard. It did have a logo on the headstock which yours doesn't appear to have.

Check out this earlier post on BHO

banjohangout.org/archive/228548

Cheerio

Jim (Hawgfiddle65)

Edited by - Hawgfiddle65 on 07/12/2013 02:06:51

Billybiltbanjo - Posted - 07/12/2013:  17:26:20

Just a guess but it has some similarities to some John Grey banjo-mandolins but I suppose many makers could have used that tailpiece.

Edited by - Billybiltbanjo on 07/12/2013 17:35:34

Baconfine - Posted - 07/14/2013:  09:36:17

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quote

:please see -Broadcaster   see Hobgoblin music England there under other banjos Bristoö

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Originally posted by banjolele girl

 

Hi, have just inherited an 8 string, brass (I think!) and mother-of-pearl effect (I think) banjolele .  The whole back is this pearl effect . I believe it was my great grandfathers, who lived in Northern Ireland and Scotland at the end of 20th/beginning of 21st century. There are no labels/makers names etc on the instrument or case. I don't play, but my son would like to learn, being quite musical. It would be great if he could play his great great grandfather's instrument :). So I would really like to find out something about this instrument, and wondered if anyone could enlighten me. I know there isn't much to go on ! I've had a look online, but can't find anything similar to my banjolele. More photo's on my album. I don't imagine it to be a collectors piece, but wasn't sure which other topic to put it under.

 Any ideas greatly appreciated. Many thanks

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