Fairbanks

Although the Fairbanks and Cole Company predated the solo flight of A. C. himself by 10 years, and in that time the prior partnership built around 15,700 instruments, Mr. Albert Conan Fairbanks went out on his own in 1890. The Whyte Laydie model was introduced in 1901 and then something really bad happened – in March of 1904 the Fairbanks factory had a ferocious fire (factually, a fearsome conflagration). NOW ON SALE!!!  WAS $5213 BUT NOW: 

This is one of several models in the Fairbanks “Electric” series. This one has the inverted Whyte Laydie style tone ring, a scalloped device of nickel-plated brass that abuts a nickel-plated brass tube that, itself, sits next to the newer Mylar frosted top banjo head. It is this tone ring that imparts the flowing, lyrical sonic attributes that makes the phrase “Fairbanks Electric” so welcome among old time players. THIS WAS $5671 but it is NOW ON SALE for:

The Fairbanks “Curtis Electric” model banjo is very beautiful and exceptionally rare - in our 36 years in business we have not found or offered any others. It is so legendary that Mike Ramsey of Chanterelle Banjos has named one of his own outstanding new banjos “Curtis Fairbanks” to commemorate it.