This tiny banjolin followed me home from a music festival this past weekend. These things happen, right? The lady who was selling it told me she picked it up in Tasmania. It's got what I think is a bakelite resonator with the "Victor Star" logo embossed on the back. Similar logo on the headstock. Also on the headstock: an emblem for the Victoria Banjo Club with their address in Melbourne.
The VBC still exists, albeit in a new incarnation. From their website:
The Victoria Banjo Club was originally formed in 1932 by Charles Bowden and was later run by his son Ian. During the height of its popularity from the 1930s to the late 1950s, the Club had a headquarters and music store in central Melbourne and boasted a membership numbering in the hundreds. Its motto was “to create music is the greatest thrill”.
From what little info I've gleaned, this may have been an English instrument that was branded for sale by the club. Has anyone seen one of these before? Any info on who made these and when?
Photos can be found here.
Edited by - noamberg on 06/27/2022 20:20:36
noamberg
Post the pictures directly to the forum page. You will get more replies from the hangout braintrust. I am one of those guys that looses interest quickly when the pictures are not on the forum page.
Bob Smakula
I don't know that much about this instrument, but I can say that I've only ever seen laminated b/w/b nuts on German made instruments. Hopefully someone else more knowledgeable will chime in.
This strikes me as British made.
(btw, the nut is w/blk/w, & was also used on the Le Domino banjo ukulele by JR Stewart. I don't think Stweart had anything to do w/ the OP instrument).
quote:
Originally posted by Bob Smakulanoamberg
Post the pictures directly to the forum page. You will get more replies from the hangout braintrust. I am one of those guys that looses interest quickly when the pictures are not on the forum page.
Bob Smakula
Thanks for the tip!
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