Notes on playing the banjo uke (and the regular ukulele), as well as some of my favorite songs and videos, but mostly, you'll find information here on my particular obsession - the many models of banjo ukulele offered by Stromberg-Voisinet in the 1920's to 1931.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Buster Brown & Tige

Our friend David Shenkman - who put together the GREAT Banjo Ukulele Haven page - has found the only photos I've seen of this uke with the Buster Brown shoes logo on the vellum. It's a great find, and everyone I know who finds this type - even without the logo on the vellum - refers to it as "the Buster Brown" due to this association. As David points out, this was a promotional version of the model, created to help sell Buster Brown shoes.




It's a truly handsome ukulele, and though not as heavily decorated at the Rose, I think it's the most attractive that Stromberg-Voisinet produced. So what makes the Buster Brown unique?



Well, its not the pot, five-piece neck and fretboard, which are actually identical to the Rose's - and as you'll see, they were made with a plain fretboard and headstock with no logo - or made with the signature S-V Pearloid treatment and white celluloid fretboard binding.




So - it has to be that resonator and that chrome flange with portholes that's special. And notice how the pot of the uke actually sits directly against the flange - that's not only unique among S-V ukes, but also very rare amongst all kinds of banjos.


You'll also notice from this shot how much larger this resonator is than on any other model of S-V banjo uke. It's a good three inches larger in diameter. Also - note that it was made with a purfling ring on the back and also in a three-piece style enclosing inlay as seen in the topmost of these two examples of the instrument.

Just recently, a Buster Brown (sans logo) came up on eBay that showed just how the resonator attaches - note the block that serves as the spacer.


Also note that the brand name 'Elton' is stamped into the flange in the place that would normally be placed under the heel. We've got to thank the seller for not attaching the resonator right to show us that detail.

Elton is the Chicago-based company that made capos for ukuleles, banjos and guitars in the twenties and thirties, but here, their logo on the flange seems to indicate that that Elton manufactured the flange for Stromberg-Voisinet.  


There's also a version of the flange made for the "Buster Brown" that has a raised 'grommet' around each resonator hole; whether that version was manufactured by Elton, I can't say yet.

We have a few more styles of S-V uke to cover here, but next time - onto something a little different. Until then - keep on strumming.
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10 comments:

  1. barefootgypsyMarch 22, 2012 at 4:10 AM

    Fascinating stuff, as ever! Keep 'em comin'....please! :)

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  2. AnonymousMarch 22, 2012 at 8:14 AM

    Interesting design, though I've always thought this model looks out of proportion, with the oversized resonator. I wonder what it sounds like, though?


    Cheers,

    Chris

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  3. John BMarch 22, 2012 at 10:34 AM

    That's a good question. No idea. I've never heard one played, and it seems like whoever's buying these - and there have been more than dozen of them on eBay in the last year and half - isn't posting any videos. We have to wait and see on this one - or buy one and report back!

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  4. Cyndi and DeanMarch 23, 2012 at 1:14 AM

    I really like that. In a strange creepy way the cartoon really adds a lot to the whole 'mojo' of that thing.

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  5. John BMarch 26, 2012 at 1:20 PM

    The cartoon is definitely unique. We've all seen personalized vellums, but this is the earliest purpose-made marketing tool I've ever seen on a ukulele.

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  6. strumminsimonJanuary 5, 2015 at 9:00 AM

    Hi John,
    id never heard of the "brown buster" until now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John BJanuary 5, 2015 at 9:42 AM

      Its funny, but I've only ever seen this one, thought there must have been others. Still, as a result of that memorable-looking vellum, most folks I talk to who have seen it call this model Buster Brown. Like with all things Stromberg-Voisinet, who can say if it had an actual model name? Based on what little material there is, I'd say it didn't.

      Delete
  7. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2015 at 12:35 PM

    Ran across a banjo ukulele a few years ago--I had never heard of one, so I bought it. Part of the reason I bought it was the fact that it basically still looks "new"--the original gut strings were even still in place. After getting it home and doing a but of research, It seems that I ran across a Buster Brown model! I removed the original strings and planned to get it up and running, but fast forward three or four years and I still haven't got around to that.

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    Replies
    1. John BJanuary 7, 2015 at 1:59 PM

      Well, in that 3-4 years, this model has gone up in value. They don't come up often but some have sold in the $5-600 range, more in the UK. So if you're going to sell, you probably don't need to do anything, but if you're going to play it, get plain nylon strings (GHS, La Bella or D'Addario), set it up properly and go!

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    2. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2015 at 11:37 PM

      Do you know anyone who is currently looking for one? At this point in my life, as a recent college graduate deciding what to do next, I don’t see myself doing much with it, not to mention I could use the money for other expenses. I am attached to it enough that I would want it to go to a good home though. I have thought about putting it up on eBay, but I’ve never sold anything on there before and I’m afraid it would get damaged in shipping. Any suggestions?

      Delete

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