Around the turn of the century (I mean late 19th.
to early 20th., not now), great effort was made to devise every
kind of banjo to replace other string instrument. There were
guitar-banjos, mandolin-banjos, ukulele-banjos and some more.
Banjos were made in every size, piccolo, ladies, banjaurine,
giraffe(regulqr neck on piccolo pot) etc. and even the bass-banjo
were made. A regular banjo has 5 strngs, but 7, 9, or even 13
string banjos were made(these were mostly made in the UK.)
I'm not colleting or playing all of them, but here are some.
S.S.Stewart "American Princess" No.2 c.1898
S.S.Stewart was one of the top banjo makers in the 19th Century.
They made banjos in various sizes and each size had a different name.
The American Princess has a 10" rim and is
smaller than a regular banjo but is larger than a Lady banjo.
The head inlay is a later pattern often seen on the "20th Century" banjos.
Apparently this one was made after S.S.Stewart's death by the
Stewart & Baur co. who had the right for the S.S.Stewart brand.
Gatcomb "The Monarch" banjaurine mid 1890's.
Lyon & Healy "Own Make" Style B, melody (or soprano) banjo.
It's a mandolin banjo with only 4 strings.
A Gretsch uke banjo.
I have seen several Gretsch Clarophone banjo ukes so far,
but this one is different and by far better made.
See the unique resonator construction.
No name ukulele banjo with "Little Wonder" type tone ring.
(It's not likely this banjo is a Vega made. It's more likely
Chicagoish. Or is it New Yorkish?
Early Gibson TB. " Trap door" era.
No name banjo mandolin. The pot and tone ring looks to be
identical to A.A.Farland concert grand banjos.
Might have been made by Rettberg & Lange.