Treasure in a box

Mandolin_nA while ago the Australian Jazz Museum was lucky enough to receive a mandolin banjo  from a generous lady; Shirley Smith.

A mandolin is a plucked string instrument that originated in Italy and belongs to the lute family. A banjo is also a string instrument that originated in America and belongs to the guitar family.  A mandolin banjo is a hybrid instrument of both the mandolin and a banjo with the body of a banjo and the tuning of a mandolin.  It is also known as a “banjolin” or a banjo-mandolin.

Shirley said her mother bought this second-hand “banjolin” when she was a seven year old. She assumes it is from the Young’s Auction in Camberwell which is one of Melbourne’s oldest established auction rooms beginning in 1930.  This “banjolin” itself goes back to 1940’s and is a ‘British Made’ by John Grey & Sons. It sounds nice and bright and has a nice tone to it.  Shirley also mentioned she joined the Victorian Banjo Club and proceeded to learn to play her banjolin.

Thank you Shirley for your kind and thoughtful donation.