Antique "Banjolin"?

Hi Cafe. :) This was my wife's late grandfather's "banjo" from his "Jimmy and the Banjo Boys" music group in Glasgow, Scotland. I think she said he was born in 1920. I told her even with my limited knowledge this was definitely a mandolin, or "banjolin" hybrid. While this could be worth a million dollars (HA though I doubt it) my wife would never part with it....I am just curious what the Cafe knows about this thing. No markings other than "British Made". It's also so heavy that it could be used as a weapon in a pub fight (remember another Cafe member using this description). I'm guessing it could be a mass-produced mandolin orchestra-era type thing. Original case too....structurally OK, but definitely hurtin'.

Attachment 111348Attachment 111349Attachment 111350Attachment 111351

And it appears I am guilty of violating the "search first" rule with this thread right below mine....

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...1453-Banjolins

Another John Grey & Sons?

G'day Phil,I have got another one too,the difference is that the headstock is straight and not curved,same marking,but had to pull it apart someone atacked it with sandpaper and it was a mess,also have to replace skin.So good luck with your searches I have not found anything yet.

Looks like someone has replaced the tailpiece with one from a full-sized banjo; which may have done it a favour as zither banjos often suffer from warping in that area which this one, at least from the photos, doesn't seem to suffer.

Probably worth much more as a family heirloom than as an instrument.

Bit of a coincidence that the replacement is the same on both,I'm in Aussie,I think Phil might be in the UK?when I bought this(and believe me it didn't cost much,cost me more in petrol to go and pick it up.I was told that it was his Grandfathers & when he passed it was put in storage.And they had a clean out.

Avabeah, I'm in the U.S. (Florida), but my wife's grandfather was Scottish (from Glasgow). Pretty sure he may have been the original owner, and it's been passed down....went to my wife because of my interest in music which hopefully his great-grandkids will pick up. :) They won't be playing this thing, but very cool to have around.

Phil,Hope they do M8,Same story from the bod's I bought this from & they are in there 60's (retired)The only thing I done to this was replace the strings,weird how these banjo's are thousand of miles apart, yet they have been replaced with Identical tailpieces???

Anywho,Cheers & Beers. You & yours hava Good Chrissie :)

It is not a John Grey & Sons, it is a George Houghton & Sons, also known as GH&S:)