View Full Version : "Cuckoo" Banjo Mandolin
stryker_oz
Dec-30-2010, 3:44am
From the odd comment in this community, what I've found more broadly via google, and the rare eBay item these appear to be Australian, though the only markings aside from the brand on the head is "ENGLISH MAKE" (sic).
Thought I'd post a few images here for posterity.
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Jake Wildwood
Dec-30-2010, 8:00pm
Very typical made-in-England banjo mando from the period, with a very typical English-style "zither" banjo head build. I've worked on a few of these... they tend to sound pretty shrill until you mute them with a cork or similar item against the head from behind. Fun size, though, for sure!
Jake Wildwood
Dec-30-2010, 8:01pm
That period being c.1920s... I've seen LOADS of these with lots of different brand names.
pelone
Jan-01-2011, 1:30am
;)Run--Run away--fast!
As Jake mentioned it is not rare and it can be a fun instrument. Banjo mandolins are normally quite inexpensive. Huge numbers were made in the first half of the 20th C. and are still being hauled out of attics and sold on eBay. This one being the English made version. Those which I have repaired back to usabilty have been pretty easy and fun projects.
Highly recommended as an interesting though somewhat odd instrumet.