Top quality banjo made by Windsor in Birmingham, in the early part of last century. Head has Stentor printed on it, therefore assume added later. Case is leather, top load method and shows signs of wear but very useable. Please see all photos for full condition. I also collected the following information: History of the Windsor Company: From 1887 until the Birmingham factory was destroyed in 1940 in a German air-raid, the Castle Works Windsor company was the largest maker of fretted instruments in Britain. A. O. Windsor pioneered the so-called Zither style of construction, where the head of the banjo is housed in a wooden case or "pot". A typical Windsor feature is the 5th string tunnel which eliminates the 5th string tuner on the neck typical of most banjos. Most Windsor banjos thus have 6 tuners: three per side though only 5 of those tuners are used — the 6th acting as a spare in the event of breakage. Unlike most banjo makers, Windsor fabricated all their own hardware fittings in their workshop. Numerous patents were registered on the designs. The calfskin head diameter ranges from 8 inch to 9 inch on Windsor banjos so they are not ‘big’ sounding. They are perfect however for home playing, or in a small group, and have a distinctive mellow tone. Workmanship is very good on these instruments, with quality woods and inlay. |