Please Help Identify Mandolin Banjo

[Rick Anderson]

Hi Everybody,

This is my first post and I'm the happy new owner of my first mandolin banjo, which I hope somebody can help me identify. It has absolutely no markings. The pot, retaining ring, and armrest are made of VERY HEAVY solid brass. This thing is built like a tank and weighs about as much! The original head was skin but it was replaced with plastic (over the original cracked skin) at some point. Here are a few pictures. I'm not sure that the neck is original. If anybody has any idea of what it may be, that would be very much appreciated.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/inim_mini/IMG_1905.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/inim_mini/IMG_1894.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/inim_mini/IMG_1907.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/inim_mini/IMG_1908.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/inim_mini/IMG_1909.jpg

[Rick Anderson]

Also, I would like information on where to find a replacement knob for the tuner and skin for the head. It is 7-1/4"
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/inim_mini/IMG_1897.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/inim_mini/IMG_1899-1.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/inim_mini/IMG_1895.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/inim_mini/IMG_1893.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/inim_mini/IMG_1900.jpg

[MikeEdgerton]

Relacement knobs and skins try www.stewmac.com. I don't think your mandolin banjo was made in the US, possibly Great Britain.

[Rick Anderson]

Thank you but I don't think that is a correct link.

[Schlegel]

Typo- he meant Stewmac.com

[MikeEdgerton]

I did indeed, it was a typo. www.stewmac.com

[Jim Garber]

You need a real mandolin-banjo bridge... that one prob sounds terrible.

[Rick Anderson]

I got some information this may have been made by a brand named Marius but can't find any good photos.

[F-2 Dave]

Wow. That's heavy duty. The only Marius mandobanjos I could find doing a quick search didn't look much like your's. That said, I can't say that it's not. Please post some soundclips when you get it going. And, welcome to the Cafe.

[Rick Anderson]

The retaining ring casting on this Marius is exactly the same as mine, including the cast-in string hooks and the bolt pattern. http://www.pamelasmusic.co.uk/images/Forsale/string/banjotenor/Bt004.htm

This photo also shows a fretboard and neck that is very similar to mine, but with a different peghead.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c70/rbalano/MandoBanjo3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://janisian.com/forum/showthread.php%3F8535-Mandolin-Banjo-Can-Anyone-Help&usg=__il_vGyv9ViedW_CqoiU_ud8RUY8=&h=318&w=424&sz=10&hl=en&start=10&sig2=0shjhPNmDMrYtOi_iHBlOg&itbs=1&tbnid=HeY_CqURJBei6M:&tbnh=95&tbnw=126&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmarius%2Bmandolin%26hl%3Den%26safe%3D active%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=JmJITNyrDpKCsQO19OhI

[mculliton123]

Looks like it came with the original strings, too :))

[jim simpson]

I hope you have a lot of patience when you put a new skin on it. Each time I've done it, I swore ( I actually did swear!) it be the last though I've done about 3 or 4 total.
Your mando banjo looks pretty cool and well worth restoring.