Giant Banjo!

[Russ Chandler]

Just bought a 78 from eBay. It's a single sided Zonophone serial X-46276 featuring Olly Oakly playing a tune called "El Capitan".

What I'm intrigued about is the description on the label. Rather than the standard "Banjo Solo" it's described as "Giant Banjo"!

I must admit it sounds pretty much like a regular zither banjo to me.

I've uploaded it onto my profile and attached it to this post if anyone would like to listen and tell me if they think they can hear anything unusual about it.

[thereallyniceman]

Great to hear these old recordings.. I can't understand why, but I just fancy a bacon sandwich now :-)

Hungry Ian

[Jody Stecher]

Does the label say that there is "grand piano accompaniment"? Perhaps the Giant Banjo was a counterpart to the Grand Piano. If the piano was grand the banjo had to have a large sounding modifier (?)

[Trapdoor2]

Sounds "normal" to me. Perhaps Olly was simply a Giant among 'regular' banjoists?

[marc dalmasso]

YES ; and here ' s a picture of the " piano girafe " ( may be could be used to play with the Stewart giraffe banjorette ? )

[thereallyniceman]

Russ, are you sure it isn't the old dyslexia problem? Perhaps it says:

Olly Oakley.. Banjo Giant?

:-)