Rare J. B. Schall Banjo Made For J. E. Henning 1880s? Chicago For Repair/project
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:2884 |
Antique banjo marked "J.E. Henning's Ideal, J.B. Schall Maker, Chicago, Ill.
This banjo has had quite a life. It is missing parts and needs work. Its missing pieces, including 7 hooks, and has some repairs/replacement parts, some made from tin cans? I believe it to be from the late 1800s, it is quite a piece of history. Its almost folk art!
It will need work to be playable, for sure, but it really has some wonderful character and details. Note, ...for example, the carving of the back of the head or the thin stripes of dyed veneer in the neck...
Please look the pictures over carefully.
The J.E. Henning Story: (excerpt from Vintage Banjo Makers) "John E. Henning of Emporia, Kansas and later Chicago, was a prominent banjoist in American fretted instrument circles in the 1880’s. In 1885 he conceived the novel idea of attaching the banjo’s 5th string peg to the tailpiece “thereby removing the projection from the banjo neck and allowing more freedom in left hand manipulation”.Another of his improvements was the “steel neck stiffener” which was fixed to the base of the banjo heel and ran across the hoop to just below the tailpiece bolt.In July 1892 he patented his “Grand solo banjo” which has a 10” hoop, twenty four frets, and included a steel brace in the neck ”to prevent warping”. Henning was not the actual maker of instruments bearing his name, they were probably made for him by JB Schall and/or Washburn.In 1897 he issued a banjo magazine called “The Chicago Trio” and organized a mammoth BM&G Orchestra, both of which he used to publicize the banjos bearing his name. Eventually he moved to Los Angeles and died there in the 1930’s.
This banjo has had quite a life. It is missing parts and needs work. Its missing pieces, including 7 hooks, and has some repairs/replacement parts, some made from tin cans? I believe it to be from the late 1800s, it is quite a piece of history. Its almost folk art!
It will need work to be playable, for sure, but it really has some wonderful character and details. Note, ...for example, the carving of the back of the head or the thin stripes of dyed veneer in the neck...
Please look the pictures over carefully.
The J.E. Henning Story: (excerpt from Vintage Banjo Makers) "John E. Henning of Emporia, Kansas and later Chicago, was a prominent banjoist in American fretted instrument circles in the 1880’s. In 1885 he conceived the novel idea of attaching the banjo’s 5th string peg to the tailpiece “thereby removing the projection from the banjo neck and allowing more freedom in left hand manipulation”.Another of his improvements was the “steel neck stiffener” which was fixed to the base of the banjo heel and ran across the hoop to just below the tailpiece bolt.In July 1892 he patented his “Grand solo banjo” which has a 10” hoop, twenty four frets, and included a steel brace in the neck ”to prevent warping”. Henning was not the actual maker of instruments bearing his name, they were probably made for him by JB Schall and/or Washburn.In 1897 he issued a banjo magazine called “The Chicago Trio” and organized a mammoth BM&G Orchestra, both of which he used to publicize the banjos bearing his name. Eventually he moved to Los Angeles and died there in the 1930’s.
