On ebay may be a collectable catalog. This is just a heads-up for those that might be interested. It is a Sears 1899 Musical Instrument Catalog with Acme Professional string instruments described.
I only know from chatter here and there that purportedly S. S. Stewart made the Acme Professional banjos for Sears and that George Bauer and Fred Stewart et al completed the Sears banjo contract after S. S. Stewart's death in April 1898. The Stewart/Acme banjo history has always been fuzzy for me.
That is pretty cool, the only problem is that it is not 1899.
No. 111 is the Fall Catalog of 1901.
I have some problems with the Mugwumps Stewart/Sears claims.
The first real Sears catalog was 1894 (below). The first appearance of Acme Professional Banjos is in 1899. Stewart died in April of 1898, and we know what the Bauers did after that.
This is a work in progress for me but it does look like Sears might have sold Stewart banjos before 1899, but under the Stewart name. They also sold L&H, J. B. Schall, and Buckbee/R&L.
The Acme line post 1899 are clearly budget Stewart and Bauer Co. banjos as S&R proudly claims "having made special arrangements with the manufacturers of the famous S. S. Stewart Banjos to manufacture for us our Acme Professional Banjos." The Acme private label banjos were MUCH cheaper than the SSS branded banjos.
quote: -- its interesting I have one of those WINDSOR banjos described on that page - looks as if it was made by L&H its a good banjo but I would love to get a SSS ACME
Originally posted by Joel HooksI have some problems with the Mugwumps Stewart/Sears claims.
The first real Sears catalog was 1894 (below). The first appearance of Acme Professional Banjos is in 1899. Stewart died in April of 1898, and we know what the Bauers did after that.
This is a work in progress for me but it does look like Sears might have sold Stewart banjos before 1899, but under the Stewart name. They also sold L&H, J. B. Schall, and Buckbee/R&L.
The Acme line post 1899 are clearly budget Stewart and Bauer Co. banjos as S&R proudly claims "having made special arrangements with the manufacturers of the famous S. S. Stewart Banjos to manufacture for us our Acme Professional Banjos." The Acme private label banjos were MUCH cheaper than the SSS branded banjos.
-- interesting - I happen to have one of those WINDSOR banjos ,it is a good banjo looks as if it was made by L&H in very good condition but I would prefer a SSS ACME made when SS was alive --
quote:
Originally posted by John Firth-Smith-- interesting - I happen to have one of those WINDSOR banjos ,it is a good banjo looks as if it was made by L&H in very good condition but I would prefer a SSS ACME made when SS was alive --
I'd love to see that Windsor.
Yeah, that would be some feat to get an Acme made when SSS was alive as they were not made until after the forced Bauer takeover.
I've seen a few L&H banjos with the "Windsor" name applied... didn't know who they were sold by, until now.
quote:
Originally posted by Joel Hooksquote:
Originally posted by John Firth-Smith-- interesting - I happen to have one of those WINDSOR banjos ,it is a good banjo looks as if it was made by L&H in very good condition but I would prefer a SSS ACME made when SS was alive --
I'd love to see that Windsor.
Yeah, that would be some feat to get an Acme made when SSS was alive as they were not made until after the forced Bauer takeover.
I will dig out the WINDSOR and post photos in a couple of days - I thought the Acme University Glee was made by SSS when he was alive with the Tree of life inlay ?
quote:
Originally posted by John Firth-Smithquote:
Originally posted by Joel Hooksquote:
Originally posted by John Firth-Smith-- interesting - I happen to have one of those WINDSOR banjos ,it is a good banjo looks as if it was made by L&H in very good condition but I would prefer a SSS ACME made when SS was alive --
I'd love to see that Windsor.
Yeah, that would be some feat to get an Acme made when SSS was alive as they were not made until after the forced Bauer takeover.
I will dig out the WINDSOR and post photos in a couple of days - I thought the Acme University Glee was made by SSS when he was alive with the Tree of life inlay ?
Nope, I'll look this evening for the catalog where they announce the University Glee model. It is Post SSS, as was all Acme Banjos made by Stewart & Bauer.
Edited by - Joel Hooks on 01/12/2021 05:29:43
Thanks Joe - I have a few SSS banjos most models all numbered way before 50,000 - by the way I need 5 or 6 1/2 inch two leg bridges that you make.
I am interested in anything SSS -- John
