S. S. Stewart Banjeaurine (1896), made in Philadelphia, serial # 18544, natural finish, spunover rim, cherrywood neck with ebony fingerboard, black hard shell case.
The Banjeurine was an original creation of Philadelphia's S.S. Stewart, and this is a lovely example of his factory's work. With a short scale neck but full size head these instruments were meant to be tuned to a higher pitch to play melody parts in the banjo ensembles of the 1890's but still have a full rich tone. Not as often seen or played today, Banjeaurines from any maker are considerably rarer than their full-scale banjo brothers, especially in the better grades.
This lovely little Stewart features a typical cherry neck with an ebony fingerboard with mixed diamond, moon and star pearl inlay. The interesting inlaid headstock has a presumably minstrel-inspired inlaid motif illustrating a tambourine, castanets, branches and ribbon executed in mixed media. The heel is catved and the neck brace ianchored there s the later style with a central turnbuckle, a useful feature that is actually fairly effective at setting the neck angle. This is a very good playing and sounding 125-year-old instrument and a lovely find for the banjo collector or player with a taste for the slightly unusual!
Overall length is 28 3/8 in. (72.1 cm.), 11 1/16 in. (28.1 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 20 1/4 in. (514 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/4 in. (32 mm.).
This instrument remains in very nice original condition overall. Especially considering its age. The friction tuners, tailpiece, hooks and nuts are all original. There is an old heel repair, solid but visible and not finished over, and the large screws securing the neck brace at the heel are not original. There is some general wear overall, bur really this is a pretty clean late 19th century piece. The instrument is in excellent playing condition, set up with a recent genuine calfskin head and new Nylgut strings. The Banjeaurine offers a unique, rather enchanting sound and this one is no exception. It lives in a 1920's period HSC that is a decent if not perfect fit. Excellent - Condition.
