1920’s S.S. Stewart by Gretsch
1920’s S.S. Stewart by Gretsch. Many big-name manufacturers were contracted by music distributers or even individual music stores to make standard model instruments with a custom name. Though the S.S. Stewart banjo company created quite a reputation for itself in the 1890’s, this particular S.S.S banjo never saw 223 & 224 Church St. in Philadelphia. Gretsch was a Brooklyn maker and the distributer, Buegeleisen & Jacobson (B&J), the musical instrument firm that happened to own the S.S. Stewart name at the time, was in Manhattan. Those details still confuse a lot of folks 100 years later. This as-is project tenor banjo has a maple neck with decorative wood laminations down the center. The ebonized maple fretboard has a 20-7/8” string length. The maple rim is roughly 11”. A little hard to tell exactly as it is out of round. Hardware on the rim has a substantial tension hoop, 20 brackets, wire armrest, Bell Brand tailpiece, wedge neck tensioner, and most surprising, an S.S. Stewart – Richard Kuenstler patented “Steel Neck Fastener & Adjuster”. I rarely see this device on Stewart banjos made after the Stewart & Bauer era instruments. It is an interesting looking contraption designed to make subtle string height adjustments, but it seems to do more to crack banjo heels and distort banjo rims when used by over enthusiastic banjo tinkerers. For the record, we have it in a neutral adjustment and that creates no stress. Still, if you need one to complete a Church Street made Stewart, here’s your chance! It happens to be painted gold. This banjo, in as is condition, is priced at $200 and a small vintage chipboard guitar case is included to take this banjo to your gigs at the Junior High.
This instrument is not available for international shipment.