Some sources credit a Hawaiian by the name of Alvin D. Keech, who later moved to England, with the invention of the banjo ukulele, in 1917 or 1918. And, it is certainly true that he popularized the instrument. He patented the name "Banjulele," and made a large number of them under the Keech name.

However, Keech did not invent the instrument. An 88 page book by N. B. Bailey titled A Practical Method for Self Instruction of the Ukulele and Banjo Ukulele and published by Sherman Play & Co. of San Francisco, California bears a copyright date of 1914.

The reason for the banjo uke, banjo ukulele, banjolele (or whatever it was called) was simple. The ukulele had become very popular, but some people wanted an instrument which would produce more volume. The idea of an instrument about the size of a uke and tuned the same, and with a body like a banjo (but smaller) was a natural. Most banjo ukes have a pot size (head diameter) of between six and eight inches (most modern banjos have eleven inch pots).

During the 1920s and 1930s banjo ukes were produced by most of the banjo makers. They were manufactuered by the thousands, and the majority of them were inexpensive instruments, often retailing for $2.00 or possibly even less. Some were openback, while others had some sort of resonator (back).

A great variety of banjo ukes exist, and I find the study of them fascinating. Certainly they are a part of the twentieth century American culture. For the collector, the instrument offers great diversity, not only in the "standard" models produced by the major builders, but in the custom, one-of-a-kind banjo ukes which were made by special order by some companies.

Collectors should be aware of the fact that, over the years, many banjo ukes have been "modified." Resonators were often added to openback models, and parts such as tuning pegs and tailpieces were changed. So, the warning "buyer beware" applies, as it does in all areas of collectibles.

 

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