c. 1915 Lyon & Healy "Improved George Washburn"
Added 2021-01-29 16:30:01 +0000 UTCIn 1913 Lyon & Healy introduced the "Improved George Washburn" banjo featuring their new and improved tone ring. This tone ring was likely intended as a cheaper knock-off of Fairbanks' "Electric" design. The instrument in this video is a 525 model, serial # 8160.
Several knowledgeable collectors have told me that these banjos were actually made by Rettberg & Lange in New York, who then shipped them to Lyon & Healy in Chicago for distribution.
This example is set up with a Waverly Fiberskyn 2 head, La Bella No. 17 nylon strings, and an outstanding historical reproduction Bolsover Gibbs banjo bridge by Joel Hooks. This bridge was apparently a Stewart design first appearing in 1885 and later copied by Gibbs.
