Can anyone tell me what this is?It is a 19 fret tenor, with a maple 2 piece neck,maple resonator,skin head,friction tuners. The headstock emblem would lead you to think it was an SS Stewart but I am no expert.I have looked it over very well and can not find a serial number.Thanks in advance.http://www.banjohangout.ws/banjohan...22102009.jpg


http://www.banjohangout.ws/banjohan...22102009.jpg



http://www.banjohangout.ws/banjohan...22102009.jpg


http://www.banjohangout.ws/banjohan...22102009.jpg


http://www.banjohangout.ws/banjohan...22102009.jpg

Posted - 10/22/2009 :  13:44:57      

What is it about the head that makes one think it was made by S. S. Stewart?

-Joel Hooks

Success always comes to those who have the money to buy it.

-The Adventures of a Banjo Player, 1884 p.26

Posted - 10/22/2009 :  13:50:46    

Hi Joel. I should have said the "emblem" in the headstock.

Randall

Posted - 10/22/2009 :  14:12:19          

Looks like a Slingerland:




www.johnbalchmusic.com
www.myspace.com/johnbalch

Posted - 10/22/2009 :  15:16:27          

Looks like Slingerland. Here's a banjo-mando peghead, banjo is stamped Stewart Thoroughbred on the dowel, but is probably made by Slingerland for sale under the Stewart trademark. I've seen a few that had the same lyre & "S" that were branded Slingerland on the dowel.




Mark Ralston

"Now, people…. when it comes to the scientifical parts of music I know nothing about it, but I can play. Listen…. A man comes to this world naked and bare; He goes through life with troubles and care; He departs this life and goes we don’t know where; But he’ll be all right there if he lives all right here" ......... Uncle Dave Macon

www.yellowstone-jewelry.com

Posted - 10/22/2009 :  16:20:00        

Looks like Slingerland to me also (Mark is soooo smart). After SSS died, his sons took over the company and they had other companies build SS banjos.


Timmo
"Bother Yum-Yum!"
http://savethebanjos.com

Posted - 10/22/2009 :  17:05:15    

That is definitely Slingerland! No doubt about it! It has all the trademark features. Shape of the peghead, decal on the back of the resonator etc.

Wayne
New Zealand


My short-term memory is not as sharp as it used to be.
Also, my short-term memory's not as sharp as it used to be.

Posted - 10/22/2009 :  17:22:29      

Buegeleisen & Jacobson was a musical instrument jobber
in New York City in the teens, twenties and beyond. Mr.
Buegeleisen appears to have been an astute and aggressive
businessman if you review the Music Trade Review magazines
about him. B&J bought the S.S. Stewart trade-name (and instrument
brand names it seems, (eg "Universal Favorite", "Thoroughbred")
in 1915 from its then owner, Keen-O-Phone. Mr. Buegeleisen then
contracted with various banjo manufacturers to construct banjos
for sale by his firm to the trade using the S.S. Stewart name.
According to Mugwumps one of his regular builders was Slingerland
in Chicago.

Beezaboy

Posted - 10/22/2009 :  17:47:46      

I re-read my post and I sounds to be a bit condescending. Sorry about that.

I guess I did not make the "S" connection as SSS was not known for putting any letters or words on the face of the peg-head.

Looks "for the trade" to me.

-Joel Hooks

Success always comes to those who have the money to buy it.

-The Adventures of a Banjo Player, 1884 p.26

Posted - 10/22/2009 :  18:53:14      

Slingerland, most definitely.
Jim

Posted - 10/23/2009 :  09:05:52    

Thanks everyone.I bought this without seeing it. A friend found it at a fleamarket. He called me and described it as having SS on the peghead.I took a chance and bought it for $125.00 .I have been playing some tenor banjo latley, so I put on some new strings and tried her out.It sounds pretty nice.


Joel,I took no offense at your post.

Randall