Arthur J. Wilmshurst Banjos Catalogue

[Joel Hooks]

https://archive.org/details/arthur-j-wilmshurst-banjo-catalog/

[Russ Chandler]

Posted this on Facebook too, but wow - thanks Joel.

I have a Wilmshurst zither that had a late career renascence as a model.

Speaking of which I don't know what model it is - can anyone tell?

[IAN SALTER]

Another great find Joel.

Russ, I think your banjo is possibly the Patent Climax Model, as it appears to have the Improved Tail Piece, but not the White Wood Inlays of the Patent Celeste Model B, that also has the tail piece.

My Wilmshurst could be any one of the Zither Banjos Models, as the descriptions of each are very similar one another. 

[Jake Glanville]

Once again, Joel, despite our differences, I'm incredibly grateful to you for the A J Wilmshurst Catalogue.  I have three of his banjos.  One of them was so bad I was going to cannibalise it and throw the remains in the skip.  I think someone who didn't know A from E had messed about with it.  However, my good friend Dave Webster banjo-repair man extraordinaire made me see sense and he restored it to playability.  The other two are beautiful, and the one that has the fancy metal fretwork is an absolute gem (also restored by Dave).

I would love to try and get some kind of date for the catalogue.  My fancy Wilshurst has 'Olley Oakley' on the vellum.  NB the spelling of his name.  This is how it was spelled in 1903 (I have evidence for this) and as one of these banos very similar to mine is in the catalogue, that should provide a clue.

Very many thanks indeed.  What with your publishing of the W Temlett 1869 patent, the Windsor Catalogue and now this one you've done the banjo world a considerable service.  And me!

Yours cordially,

BJ2F aka Jake.