Banjo uke... mid centuryish?

[jcrews]

This fell into my lap a couple of days ago. I'm trying to acquaint myself with the history of similar no-name (unless it was removed?) instruments. I have refurbished banjos before, but not banjo ukes.

It had gut (not nylon gut) string remnants on it. Thermoset (like Bakelite) tuning pegs, one of which disintegrated.

Birds eye maple veneer ( i assume) around a lamination-bent pot, which also has a darker veneer on the exposed lower rim. Skin head. I haven't pulled off the head to see how many lams were bent into the pot.

Straight, flat, maple bridge, but probably a replacement? No name no where on the uke and I cant quite figure the name on the case.

Anyway I am curious. I'm going to refurb it regardless of where and when it came from, but I'd like to know if anyone can place it.

 

[Wildjoy]

G and S CO UTILITY on the case. I think. Maybe?

I looked around online for a brand that has a similar headstock. It looks like a Stromberg-Voisinet headstock--whether it's that or copying that, I have no idea.

Edit: yes, apparently I did read the case correctly. Geib & Schaefer Co. was a case company, and they did make a case called "utility". Unfortunately, I can't find any history or narrow down a date range for that case. (Done sleuthing for now.)

https://elibrary.arcade-museum.com/magazines/mtr/MTR-1928-87-23-SECTION-2/MTR-1928-87-23-SECTION-2-14.pdf

 

[jcrews]

Thanks for the note about "Utility"- I had thought it was Geib and Schaefer, but couldn't find any logo or anything besides the big "GEIB" medallions.

 

[jcrews]

Thanks, all! The mention of Stromberg Voisinet finally led me to this, which is either the same model or very, very close.

1920s Stromberg-Voisinet (Kay) 8" Banjo Ukulele

jakewildwood.blogspot.com

The varnish job on the headstock has a big drip on it, so I think that is from later. Also I cant find any simple flat bridges like that, so that's later also.

The only real difference between this model and mine is that my pot veneer is Birdseye. But so many other details match, even the double black lines around the pot.

Oh also I have a different tailpiece, definitely made for a 5 string banjo, not a uke, so that is also new-er. It still has the Patent Applied For stamp. I haven't looked up when that stopped.

The case is a G&S, and it has a diamond on the accessory box, which is a whole rabbit hole too.

Thanks to all, I will post when it's all clean and fixed up!

 

[jcrews]

Ah, I forgot to mention- perhaps mine is a little later iteration, or just a minor fork of that production? Because it has 12 tension hooks, not 16 as in that jakewildwood post.