Re: Banjo Mandolin
I assume it's this instrument, or one just like it, to which you're referring? The "Roberts Tanneries" label on the head refers to the company that manufactured just the head. Tanneries often were associated with production of calfskin banjo heads (one reason that banjo and drum manufacture often sprang up in cities that had livestock processing plants as well).
I also enjoyed this part of the Shop Goodwill description: This item was previously a floor demo gown so there may be slight use, missing beads, rhinestones, dirt residue on bottom, small stains ect. Is yours missing any beads or rhinestones? Afraid that the website used language intended for ladies' gowns rather than mandolin-banjos...!
Jake Wildwood here states that "Lenora" was a Gretsch-made brand name in the 1920's. You might contact him and see if he has a source of "period" mandolin or mandolin-banjo tuners. The other strategy that's worked for me in the past is to visit a dealer in your area who handles "vintage" instruments, and has a repair or restoration shop. These dealers often have a "junk drawer" where they throw tuners, bridges, tailpieces etc. taken off instruments that weren't repaired or restored. You might find a set of mandolin tuners of that vintage. Be sure to take the instrument along to ensure that the tuners you find will fit the hole spacing in the headstock.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
Bookmarks