A. C. Fairbanks "Electric" 5-string banjorine, S/N 3693, Circa 1893

This is an early Fairbanks banjorine with a 12-1/2" head and lovely engraved and saw-cut inlays on the fingerboard and peghead.  Early banjeaurines (this is the spelling used by Stewart when he invented this style of banjo) had large diameter heads, but because the large heads were more susceptible to climate changes, Stewart, Fairbanks, and other makers later moved to smaller head diameters for these specialty banjos.

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