W. A. Cole banjo-mandolin, S/N 6604, Circa 1904
Early in the 1900's, hybrid instruments built with banjo rims joined to necks from other stringed instruments appeared in quantity. These included banjo-mandolins, as in this mint-condition example from Cole, banjo-guitars, and banjo-ukuleles, among others. This instrument, which features high quality components and a rim similar to a Fairbanks & Cole "Imperial" rim, appears to have never been played. Note the Pollman mandoline-banjo, which has a banjo neck on a mandolin body, and the Fairbanks & Cole guitar banjo in my collection, with a guitar neck on a banjo rim.
