Banjo-ukulele
Alternate name(s)
- Ukulele-banjo
- Banjo Uke
- Banjolele
- Banjulele
Maker
Bacon Banjo Co., Inc.
Date1923 ca.
Place MadeGroton, Connecticut, United States, North America
ModelStyle 1
Serial No.9373
SignedCream-colored celluloid inlay on peghead face, in cursive text: BaconStamped into dowel stick: MADE BY / THE BACON BANJO CO.INC. / GROTON.CONN..U.S.A.
MarkingsStamped onto calf-skin head in blue ink: GENUINE CALFSKIN / [next 3 lines of text on top of 5-pointed star] Amrawco / CALI / Standard [in cursive text] / GRINNELL BROTHERS / DETROIT[,] MICHIGAN
Stamped into tailpiece: GROVER PATENT
Stamped into dowel stick and inside of rim: 9373
DescriptionNeck: mahogany
Peghead: mahogany with dark-brown-stained maple veneer on face; integral with neck
Fingerboard: dark-brown-stained maple; 17 nickel-plated brass frets; cream-colored celluloid single dots inlaid behind 3rd, 5th, 10th, and 15th frets; cream-colored celluloid double dots inlaid behind 7th and 12th frets
Heel cap: none
Head: calf skin
Tone ring: none/not visible
Rim: wood with mahogany veneer; ebony veneer on outer edge
Bracket hooks: 14 nickel-plated steel
Shoes: 14 nickel-plated brass
Tension hoop: nickel-plated brass
Armrest: none
Resonator: none
Dowel stick: brown-stained maple
Nut: ebony
Tuners: 4 nickel-plated steel tension tuners with ivoroid heads
Tailpiece: nickel-plated brass
Finish: clear lacquer
DimensionsTotal instrument length: 343 mm (13-1/2”)
Vibrating string length: 355 mm (13-31/32”)
Fingerboard length: 228 mm (8-31/32”)
Fingerboard width at nut: 32 mm (1-1/4”)
Fingerboard width at body: 38 mm (1-1/2”)
Calf-skin head diameter: 204 mm (8-1/32”)
Back diameter: 202 mm (7-15/16”)
Rim depth: 61 mm (2-13/32”)
ProvenanceFormerly owned and played by G. Carter Orr (b. Detroit 1895 – d. St. Petersburg, Florida 1973.) Orr purchased the ukulele-banjo "about 1920," according to the donor. He was self-taught and also played the guitar.
Credit LineGift of Thomas C. Orr, 2004
Object number10581
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