Hi all,
I'm new here. I don't really play banjo, although I now own a cheap one ("Savannah") and am trying to work out what to do with it. (That "half-string" throws me every time! I normally play bass, guitar, mando and bouzouki.)
But my brother does house clearances and keeps giving me old instruments that he comes across.
Yesterday he gave me a couple of banjos (in battered original cases) to have a look at.
The first I opened today was an Essex & Cammeyer Zither Banjo. The back had fallen off and it needs a fair bit of cosmetic work, but otherwise seems OK.
I spent some time today reading up on the company. I know that it was made in London between 1893 and 1900 (as after that the two founders formed separate companies). It has "337" embossed into the back of the headstock, but I can't find any reference to this as a model number anywhere. It may be a serial number, of course.
The main problem with the banjo is that the japanned finish is coming off the rim. Otherwise it's not too bad. It looks like someone had patched up the japanning once, as there are sections that seem a different texture.
It's strung all-steel, which I now understand is incorrect for this type. The strings are old, but I'll leave them on for now, as they seem playable.
My main question for this forum is: does anyone know if the "337" is the model number, or a serial number?
337 is most likely the serial number and made in E & C's own workshop in the late 1890's. Maybe you could post a couple of photos here. You also say there was another banjo ?
