5 string banjo query

Subject: 5 string banjo query
From: MARINER
Date: 07 Jan 02 - 07:38 PM

I have a 5 string, short arm banjo made by GH&S in the U.K.Has anyone any idea of where this company was situated and if they are still in operation?.

Subject: RE: 5 string banjo query
From: 53
Date: 07 Jan 02 - 09:22 PM

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT QUESTION, BUT I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, HOW IS A 4 STRING BANGO TUNED? BOB

Subject: RE: 5 string banjo query
From: BanjoRay
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 07:46 AM

2nd question first - tenor banjos are tuned CGDA (jazz) or GDAE (Irish), while the longer Plectrum banjos are normally tuned CGBD

GHS banjos The following extract is from Terry Holland's Web Page

HOUGHTON

George Houghton established his Reliance Works in Heaton Street, Birmingham in 1888 and the range of banjos and zither-banjos he made were branded "Reliance". His well made inexpensive range of instruments quickly found favour with dealers and players alike and before long his factory was extended, his staff increased and the name changed to G. Houghton & Sons and production almost wholly devoted to making instruments for other firms to be branded with the vendor's name and/or trademark.
Houghton's maintained a stock catalogue of instruments (usually marked with a gold-embossed lion with the initials G. H. & S. underneath) with which many retailers and most of the wholesale houses made up their own catalogues. One of the most popular selling lines of their banjos was the inexpensive instruments labelled "Melody Jo". Besides making their own stock instruments they would also copy other firms' prototypes for them, to be branded with the latter's name as "makers".

In 1962, town-planning development in Birmingham plus staff difficulties finally decided George Houghton (son of the founder) to close down and he moved to London to become associated with John E. Dallas & Sons Ltd. The plant and materials and a few of his key workers he brought from Birmingham was established in a factory - at 12 Gravel Hill, Bexleyheath, Kent, and from that time until he retired in 1965 he made the inexpensive banjos sold under the Dallas label.

Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: 5 string banjo query
From: 53
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 10:49 AM

thanks for the info. BOB

Subject: RE: 5 string banjo query
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 03:14 PM

Amazing! What you want, you get, and the person asking for the information even remembers to check back and give thanks.

Subject: RE: 5 string banjo query
From: beachcomber
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 04:34 PM

I wonder if anyone answered my query (same as Mariner's, except that mine is a Grover, made in "Coventry", (UK one presumes?) concerning a 5-string banjo too. I went away on Holiday and lost track of the relevant thread.. Oh well!

Hope for the best.

beach

Subject: RE: 5 string banjo query
From: MARINER
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 05:35 PM

Hey , BanjoRay, thanks very much for the info.

Subject: RE: 5 string banjo query
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 04:11 AM

Beachcomber,

An easy way to find threads that you've posted to is to click on your own name. This gives you a list of all your postings. If you do this you will find that thread where you asked the question about your Grover banjo and you'll find that someone did respond.

Brian

Subject: RE: 5 string banjo query
From: BanjoRay
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 05:44 AM

Beachcomber - I don't know much about Grover banjos, but I know someone who does. John Les, who runs the North Wales Bluegrass Festival at Conwy has one (and lots of others) and would certainly tell you about their history. His details are here at the Festival website

Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: 5 string banjo query
From: magician
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 07:03 AM

the easiest way to tune a tenor banjo is to throw it in the skip with the bodhrans

Subject: RE: 5 string banjo query
From: beachcomber
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 03:11 PM

I just know that Magician was making a fine distinction when he specified TENOR banjoes in this thread. Thank you Brian and "Banjo Ray" for your tech. help, much appreciated. I will check those "tips" out later. God this Mudcat is really coming good this year.

A Banjo joke to finish (just to show I'm not obsessive) How many 5-string banjo players does it take to change a light bulb ?

Three !

One to change the bulb and two to argue about how Earl would have done it!

Beach

Subject: RE: 5 string banjo query
From: GUEST,karen
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 09:40 AM

just givin a kent 5 string family banjo,trying to find year,can you help. thanks. its open back

Subject: RE: 5 string banjo query
From: Mooh
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 09:53 AM

Further description? Serial number? Link to pictures?

Try asking at www.banjohangout.org Lots of helpful folks there.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: 5 string banjo query
From: GUEST,Karen
Date: 16 Aug 08 - 09:52 AM

Thank's Mooh for the web site,greatly appreciated. Sunshine Always.

Subject: RE: 5 string banjo query
From: GUEST,alan chapman
Date: 18 Jan 11 - 03:47 PM

i have a reliance 5 string banjo. don't know it's history, animal skin,,,mother of pearl on fret board and scrolled head,,,,is it valuable

Subject: RE: 5 string banjo query
From: Leadfingers
Date: 18 Jan 11 - 04:25 PM

GUEST Karen - Up at the top of the thread is a lot of Info - The bit you need is :-

George Houghton established his Reliance Works in Heaton Street, Birmingham in 1888 and the range of banjos and zither-banjos he made were branded "Reliance". His well made inexpensive range of instruments quickly found favour with dealers and players alike and before long his factory was extended, his staff increased and the name changed to G. Houghton & Sons and production almost wholly devoted to making instruments for other firms to be branded with the vendor's name and/or trademark.

IF your banjo is in good playable codition , its probably not worth much more than £100

Subject: RE: 5 string banjo query
From: Leadfingers
Date: 18 Jan 11 - 06:52 PM

Sorry Karen - I meant alan chapman !

Subject: RE: 5 string banjo query
From: Bounty Hound
Date: 18 Jan 11 - 06:56 PM

A thought for the day, from Sunday night's Lark Rise: 'Can you sing and play the Banjo, then you have a lot to be grateful for'

And to answer Bob's query about tuning, never bother with it myself, just get it out of the case and play it! (Pleased to see you did get the real answer earlier;)

And for Beachcomber, my favourite banjo joke (bit long so stick with it!)

Fella went into a pub and ordered a pint, has a couple of sips and then says to the barman, 'here, I heard a great banjo player joke' Barman says, 'before you say any more, see that karate black belt up there, well, that's mine and I play the banjo' 'Oh right' says the punter, and has another couple of sips of his beer ther says 'but it's a great joke, are you sure you don't want to hear it?' 'Look' says the barman, 'you see the Hells Angel sitting over there, well, that's my dad, and he also plays the banjo' 'OK' says the punter, and goes back to his beer. A few minutes later he says to the barman 'It really is a good joke, are you sure you don't want to hear it' 'Look' says the barman, 'you see the old boy over there, 18 stone of rippling muscle, ex professional boxer, well he's my grandfather, he also plays the banjo' 'Oh right' says the punter, 'well I'm glad you told me that, I'd hate to have to explain the joke three times!'

John
(Closet banjo player, only comes out in public when surrounded by a group of people waving big sticks)