IMBanjoJim - Posted - 10/28/2025:  14:31:46

Got to wondering just how early banjos were collected?
Reuben Reubens, over in England, is probably the earliest banjo collector I’m aware of, but I have to believe there were others, collecting earlier, both in America and England.
Anyone have any ideas?

martyjoe - Posted - 10/28/2025:  14:48:38

I’d say that banjo acquisition syndrome probably started with the 2nd banjo ever made.

reubenstump - Posted - 10/28/2025:  15:04:29

quote:

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Originally posted by martyjoe

I’d say that banjo acquisition syndrome probably started with the 2nd banjo ever made.

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"This thing looks weird and sounds terrible.  I want more!"

IMBanjoJim - Posted - 10/28/2025:  16:06:03

That explains everything!

Tim Jumper - Posted - 10/28/2025:  16:13:25

Jim Bollman is the guy to ask.

Joel Hooks - Posted - 10/29/2025:  06:46:45

J. E. Henning had a small collection of instruments that he weaponized to try and convince people that Joel Sweeney "invented" and "made the first ever banjo".

This was in the late 1890s, and for some reason the family lore, conjecture, and very vague history of the so called "Sweeney banjo" has been taken at face value. Even the smallest amount of critical thinking causes this narrative to fall apart.

There was an article in the Stewart Journal that included a photo of a "collection" of banjos in a glass cabinet with an article on the owner, I'll let you locate that on your own.

E. M. Hall toured with a small sample collection of instruments illustrating his version of the "history of the banjo" (mostly centered on the J. E. Henning "Sweeney banjo" myth). He would play each era of the banjo using the "style" and pieces that would match each era.

Fred Van Eps had some in his estate including a banjo he (allegedly) purchased from Frank B. Converse's estate. This is a smooth arm banjo with a unique peghead shape and solid rosewood neck, rosewood veneered rim, and rosewood tailpiece. It is signed on the inside of the rim by Converse, and while not 100% conclusive, there are some letters that support this claim. Clearly this was not something Van Eps owned to play. And it is not hard to believe he had other banjos, as mementos and not "players".

Ben Robin, an enthusiast and early member of the ABF was a "collector" well before Rubens. According to Hank Sapoznik, who was close to him, he would watch the obituaries for any musicians and then go knock on the widow's door.

Eli Kaufman started collecting in the late 1960s.

I would expect there are many, many more examples of "collectors". I would also expect that there were "collectors" as soon as the banjo became popular.

There was an account of the Dobson School of music in the December 1933 issue of the BMG describing a room full of old banjos.