Your Letters

These are just a few of the many e mails received from people all over the world who have looked into this Banjo Ukulele Web Site. My thanks to you all for your interest and your time.
Dear Dennis,
What a great website you've put together!! It sure has helped me in my newly found quest for knowledge and love of the banjo ukulele.
I have recently acquired a UB-2 (or 3) with diamond inlays (no flange or sunburst) and I'm trying to make some sense out of which it really is and when it may have been made. I've also been involved with a flanged, figured maple UB-3 w/ the same inlays as above. The two black and white catalog pages or advertisements you show on your intro to Gibson UB's page are very interesting, although they contradict each other somewhat, obviously coming from different times. Would you share with me their dates of publication? I've got some additional information on its way to me and I'd like to put everything together that I can and perhaps figure out some answers so they won't be quite as confusing. If you have anything else that might contribute to the quest, or if I can fill in any blanks for you, please let me know. I'm happy to share all I come up with and am disappointed with those who hoard information. You obviously don't, but I'm sure you have come across those who do. My experience tells me that everyone benefits from the free flow of information. 
I guess the one other thing I might ask is, if you know anyone else who has tried, or is trying to put this together, please let me know. I'd rather work with them, not duplicate their efforts.
Thank you!
With warmest regards,
Dave Baker
Fly Creek, NY 
Hi Dennis
Just a few lines to tell you of my new acquisition - a friend of mine has given me a Keech Banjulele very similar to the one shown on your website but
I think lighter in colour with a more shapely peg head and a flatter back.
also the casting is less visible from the front (the wooden edge of the outer hoop is thicker). It's signed on the back.
It's not in very good condition, the outer hoop is a bit distorted making the action very high and some of the veneer is coming away from around the side but apart from that it seems original, with case, tensioner key and some spare strings. It's fitted with gut strings. I'm not sure how to go about restoring it - it just needs the outer hoop reshaping and possibly strengthening, I think that it may have been stored for a very long time with the string tension high and maybe got a little damp. The gut string seem to require a very high tension the reach the correct pitch, is this normal, I'm used to nylon strings.
Do you have any knowledge about repairing the damage? is it worth the effort, or is it best left alone. It still makes a nice wall piece but I would like to play it.
Best Regards
Ron in Morecambe
Greetings Dennis,
Forgot to mention that I thought I would write you after first experiencing your two wonderful sites.
They are simply fab!
Cheers,
Rickio Woods  
Seattle WA  USA 
Dear Mr. Taylor
Sorry to disturb you. I came across a Banjo Uke in a Charity shop, it looked so nice I bought it. Could you tell me anything about it? Its made by John Grey and Sons London. The drum diameter is 7inches (Total 81/2") mounted on an alloy base in a
dark wood surround. It has 16 frets and mother of pearl dots. Are they meant to use nylon strings or do they use gut or steel. and how taut should the skin be? I'd be interested to find out more about my new toy. It's quite addictive! My normal instrument is 6 string guitar.
Regards Matthew
Hi:  I found your web site while researching an old musical instrument I own.  Several years ago my father-in-law gave me an old banjo uke.  He says it's probably around a hundred years old.  Still has the old case too.  The thing is in pretty good shape for the age.  The brand name, at least I guess it's the brand name, written on the headstock is "Banner Blue."  I've looked everywhere on the internet and can't find any reference to that brand.
Have you ever heard of this make of banjo uke?  If not, do you know where else I might look?  I am really interested in finding out some history on this old instrument.
Thank you,
Roger D. LaRue
Burlington, Wa.USA
Dear Denis  What a great web site, how things have changed since I joined the GFS back in the 70's. I was once the proud owner of a Baby Gibson but like a fool parted with it when times were hard some years ago. Nowadays I own a John Claughton "Griffin". It really is a great instrument, perhaps his range could be included on your site one day. Anyway keep up the good work hope to see you in Blackpool at one of the conventions  
Gareth Allman
Hi Dennis, My father has recently acquired a banjulele similar to the one shown in your extremely informative website together with the instruction manuals and originals sets of strings and bridges etc he acquired it from the estate of his brother who apparently received it as part payment for a job of work for an elderly theatre performer named Phyllis Lachlan within the case is also an autographed string packet from Alvin Keech to Phyllis Lachlan who performed at the Empire theatre in London. Could you tell me if these are the kind of things which should have separate insurance and are they valuable although i don't believe my father would sell it. Thanking you in anticipation
Hugh Lavery
Hey Dennis,
I'm a musician who recently ran into what (I think) was a real deal, but I'm not quite sure...
I recently purchased a Concertone banjo Ukulele in decent shape (just needs some tlc and a good cleaning). There's a hand-written (in pencil) date on the bottom of the skin that says "1928".
First off, any idea what the value is? Don't worry, I'm not looking to sell and I promise not to use you as a value quote. I just want to find out if I need to add it to my house insurance...
Secondly, any internet resources on Concertone and/or care and cleaning for vintage banjo ukuleles that you know of? I haven't been able to find any info on Concertone or a good care/repair site.
Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated!
All the best,
Jon Picciano
WOW!  I just found your page and LOVE it!  I have been collecting and playing banjo ukes for about 4 years now.  I have attached pictures of a wonderful Lange "Solo" that I have.  I also have a question about the Gibson "Trap-door" Banjo uke.  Is this not a banjo uke?  I have two of these, one documented from 1924 and the other I think is from the late 20s.  Both have "The Gibson" silk screened on the peg head.  The Gibson web site identified my older one as a model UB from 1924 and said it was the only model banjo uke made by Gibson that year.  I'd love to hear from you.  I've bought many little banjo ukes over the past few years, many of which I put back in playing condition, and then passed on to other people.
THANKS!!
Steve Shelton,
Danbury, North Carolina, USA
Hi from New Zealand, 
I have just purchased an old Banjo Ukulele and I thought I may find it pictured in you site. I want to know the history but I haven't got much to go on. the instrument has a small logo in gold lettering at the top on the neck, a LIONS HEAD and the words BRITISH MADE it has a metal name plate which says MELODY-UKE.
It has an eight and a 1/4 inch dia drum with a steelring under the skin which raises the centre, it has eight tensioner screws around the drum and has a closed back which measures ten and 1/2 inches. From the tail stock to the top of the neck it measures 21 inches. I want to find out who the makers were, how long they were operating, any
advertising and any photos. It is really beyond it's useful life, it is very rough or well used, who ever owned the instrument used a rough CAPO which has taken the back of the neck right down to the wood. The value is not important, I just like to know as much as I can in case I get asked.
I would appreciate any help you may give.
Thanks Regards Jono
Congratulations on your site! Long overdue. I hope it will become THE reference.
Can't help with the identification of the photos.
Melody Joe was a trade-mark of Houghtons of Birmingham.
Melody King was a trade-mark of Maybell/Slingerland.
Oddsnsods:
Gibson Ukes:  I believe that Gibson in the USA have a Banjo uke in their collection in "Bella Voce" style, made to special order, presumably in the thirties. It is illustrated in the book "Gibson Guitars - 100 years of an American Icon"
Clifford Essex:
They made(?) the Banjuke in the early thirties. Marco Roccia then made the post-war uke. After retirement Marco made, I believe, just 2 ukes with resonator. One is still with his family, I have photos of this instrument I can let you have if of interest.
Dallas: "George Formby Complete" plus your site plus James Ward's site suggest that the "D" model was not up to George's expectations, and that he dubbed with other instruments. But if you watch out in "Turned out nice again", the state of the vellum shows that he put in an awful lot of strumming on it, which surely can't all be written off to
demonstration playing. Same goes for the "E" pictured this month on "The Vellum" cover. Odd, that.
I have heard the story that Alvin Keech was so incensed by Clifford
Essex company selling the Banjuke, that he attacked Clifford Essex with
an axe. Keech was sent to an asylum, where he later died.
Looking forward to further entries on your site
Best regards,
John Clough, Vensac, France
Dear Dennis
 I am a folk musician from Harrogate N Yorks. I play a variety of instruments mainly bouzouki and G Banjo.
 Today I was in Bridlington and made a rather spontaneous purchase. On sale were a few ukes and uke banjos some modern and come old. I came out of the shop with what I have been told is a model B Dallas Banjo with the Formby logo on the head and with what I have been told is George's signature on the vellum (I was informed that he signed them all personally). It is sadly without it's case but is more playable than any uke banjo that I have ever come across including a few Keeches that I have owned down the years.
 I would be grateful if you could give me any information on this instrument including approximate number made approximate date of manufacture and likely value/insurance value.
 Many thanks
 Steve Pepper
Dear Dennis Taylor
In response to your queries on the GFS web page I thought I night offer some help (if you haven't already had it!)
The Melody Uke was made by a company called G. Houghton and Sons. (I believe that's the name - I haven't got mine with me at the moment.)
This is visible on the ukes sometimes, and also GHS stamped into the cases under a lion figure.
I believe they were made in Birmingham. I have two Melodys, with interesting differences.
One has Melody uke stamped in gold letters on the peg head. The other has a decorative metal plate with Melody uke painted on it and music notes around it.
The pegs are interesting too. They are triangular. One has brown plastic tortoise-shell-like pegs and the other white ones.
They fun to play as they are quite thin and easy to hold and have a good tone.  I bought one for about £40 and the other for about £70 ("it was me fathers' guv").
I think the company also made other instruments.
I also believe George may have owned one. If you have the thick George Formby Complete book look on page 67. There's a photo of Harry Scott with some of George's ukes. 5th back from the front, behind the dark or dirty vellumed Gibson, is quite clearly a Melody uke - clear if you own one that is! It is the version with the metal plate on the peg head and brown pegs. It is obviously clean and unplayed, but there nonetheless.
I hope this is of help.
 Other ukes of interest include The Windsor Whirl, uke sized version of their banjos, also made in Birmingham. I have two of these again. Small and cute, can be fun to play.
 Also John Grey made ukes. I have two. One great thick lump of a uke and another non resonator one with a curious peg-head with the pegs staggered. This is the same as the uke struggled with by the Sergeant in "It's In the Air" and used as a stand in uke in the film. I have also seen a John Grey uke with a banjo sized pot with a uke neck. Odd to say the least.
 I have also come across a Dixie uke made entirely of metal! From the USA.
  am a member of the GFS but have only been to one meeting due to work etc etc etc. I now live in France and London. I have a varied collection of ukes (that I don't broadcast about too much) and some interesting Formby stuff, including an original Ealing Studios poster for "Turned Out Nice Again" and some dialogue scripts. (These are scripts typed up as a check or record of the final content of the dialogue in the films.)
I also have a photo copy of a once 'secret document' about some odd legal wranglings between the government and George over his salary and taxes on the film "Bell-Bottom George". It's very long and complex but basically George had a percentage in the films' takings that he wanted to put down as separate from wages for tax reasons (something to do with quotas etc) but the ministry wouldn't have it. The interesting part is that everyone's wages are written down along with lots of details about where the film was shot etc etc. It even has everyone's address in it! It's quite a shock to see how much he was paid above the others.  Maybe it would make an interesting article?
 I also found some photograph contact sheets from a play George did when much older. In several sheets there are lots of photos of George and the cast posed for obvious publicity photos for the play. I forget which one it is. George is old and smoking a cigar as I recall. They must be the original ones from the theatre, as when holding them against the light I could quite clearly see the mark where someone had leant on them to write "No Matinee Saturday" on a piece of paper, leaving the imprint behind.
 Anyway - I'll stop rabbitting now! If anything here is of interest please don't hesitate to drop a line to me 
Yours
Percy Copley
Hello Mr. Taylor,
                            My name is Andrea from Canada.  I have a question if you don't mind!!
My grandmother was a friend of George&Beryl and Ethel Formby- she was also on stage.  I have some billboards with George on them, and also some of his music. He gave my grandmother one of his ukulele banjos that he used- he signed it  To Dolly, love George Formby.  It has a plaque on the top of the handle that has a picture of him engraved and his name.  It is in it's original case- it is in pretty good shape, but only 3 strings left. There is a number on the back B-1064.  Would it be of any value today?
Any info that you have would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Andie
Dear Mr. Taylor,
I hope you don't mind me e-mailing you but I wanted to congratulate you on your Banjo Ukulele web page which is an absolute delight.  I have had a fondness for George Formby for some years and have recently joined the GFS (and have been enjoying  The Vellum - particularly the songs which are printed in each issue).  You must get many requests for advice, so please
don't feel obliged to answer this one if your time is short.  I came across a uke in a 'vintage' instrument  shop a few months ago and, fulfilling a long ambition, bought it and began to learn to play.  I know now from your web page that it is a Dallas Model C and, having had it restored to playing condition, have been using it to learn.  I'd now like to move on to a better instrument but am a bit lost as to what I should get and where I should get it.  Would you recommend a new uke?  (I've noticed the adverts in The Vellum for Claughton Griffin ukes, or wonder if Markendale or Cartwright ukes are still being made).  Or perhaps should I look for another 'vintage' uke - a Gibson, Ludwig, etc?  I don't mind the price (within reason!)
 Any advice would be very gratefully received.
 With best wishes,
 Peter Easy

  If you have a query or anything of interest please contact Dennis Taylor

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