Just got a wooden pot Tilton banjo to go along with my brass pot Tilton.
Patent date is April 24, 1866. The wooden on is serial # 169, which would be late 1860s probably. The brass one is later, serial # 3938, which would be 1870s.
There is an vintage ad in America’s Instrument that indicates both cost $8, a weeks wages at the time!
It says on the inside of the pots that the banjos were manufactured by Bruno & Sons.
Does anyone here know if Bruno actually made their instruments?
Hi, I was reading that chapter on the lawn this afternoon. My understanding is that Bruno were wholesalers, but don't quote me there.
Maybe Joel knows?
Cheers from Bill
Bruno & Sons were distributors. Their banjos were made by a number of different builders.
