This sturdy little Concertone banjo uke (alias banjo ukulele, banjolele, or banjulele) is an antique gem and neighbor’s keepsake that was restored under our BRC pro bono program. There are two schools of pedigree hypothesized about the lineage of Concertone banjos ukes. Most collectors report that Concertone banjos were manufactured by Stromberg-Voisinet, which later became the Kay musical instrument company, and were marketed in the 1920-30’s through Montgomery Ward catalogue sales. Some collectors maintain Concertones were made by Slingerlands, the company famous for its drums, and these banjos were also retailed through Monkey-Wards. A fading hula girl on the aging calf skin head, probably sketched by an early owner, was re-traced to preserve the Hawaiian imagery. Until the owner claims this precious restored keepsake, it will be under the watchful protection of our highly trained BRC K-9 Security Patrol.
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2 Comments
I am looking for some advice. I have a very nice old banjolele. It includes a resonator, but the original hardware that held the resonator on the pot is missing. The resonator has a hole dead center, and it lines up with another hole in the wooden coordinator rod. I imagine originally a threaded rod of some kind with a decorative head must have mated with some kind of hardware insert in the rod, but I am stumped as to what to use. Anything is better than the giant sized woodscrew someone had jammed in, fortunately with no damage resulting. Also, one of the tiny washer from one of the tuners is missing.l
Do you know a source for this type of hardware? I would like to keep it as original as possible, everything else is shipshape including the original bridge and tailpiece.
Brian- Thanks for your query. I`m glad to hear that the giant wood screw did not damage your resonator. Let me suggest several options. A good source for parts is the online Stewart MacDonald catalogue. You might consider converting the attachment system to the more conventional Mastertone style thumb screw and wall lug system. Another option would be to patiently search through the ‘banjo parts` section on e-bay where a surprisingly wide array of new, used, and original supplies can sometimes be found, and you might be able to locate a traditional resonator bracket for your banjolele. Check-out You Tube for the Prat Tenor Banjo video clip under “how to make a banjo resonator” for an example of what the bracket looks like. Another source for parts can be found on the Banjo Hangout website. If a trustworthy local music shop repairman is not nearby, you can ship your instrument to Elderly Music, Inc. to install a proper adaptor. Lastly, you might want to go down to the local hardware store and figure-out an improvised solution to your problem. In any event, avoid drilling a larger whole in the wooded dowel stick which might weaken it. Good luck and thanks much for your post. Barry