![]() ![]() He used his extensive knowledge of wood rims from banjos. Fairbanks went on to start the Fairbanks Wood Rim Company, 5 Appleton Street – a bicycle company. Day stayed on as General Manager and the instruments continued to bear the respected Fairbanks name. In 1896, at age 42, Fairbanks sold his interests in the company to David Cummings and Frank Lodge. Fairbanks and Company and David Day stayed on as General Manager. He was certainly an important factor in the success of Fairbanks and Cole.įairbanks had some form of disagreement with Cole in 1890 that led to Cole’s departure from the company. Day, over time, brought many of the significant innovations that helped define the modern banjo. He was clearly talented and strongly motivated as he quickly rose to General Manager. In 1883, at age 18, David joined Fairbanks and Cole as an office boy. By 1880 he was living with his family in Boston. The Clipper (later dropped as ‘too expensive’)ĭavid L.The enthusiasms of the time allowed that no degree of ornamentation was too much – the more the better. The level of craftsmanship was exceptional. Distribution of goods was easy by rail, so markets were no longer local, they were nation-wide. Labor was inexpensive and readily available. ![]() Metal parts could be subcontracted or mass produced in-house. Manufacturing techniques had allowed more automation due to the early versions of assembly line construction. The scores from the period range from bawdy dance hall rhythmic drives to classical musical presentations. If a stringed instrument was to accompany brass instruments, it had to be loud. The volume was important as there were no amplifiers. ![]() The public demand for banjos existed: they were small and portable, loud and suitable for all sorts of musical styles. The object of the exercise was to build banjos and their partnership would last 10 years. In 1880 they joined forces to form the Fairbanks and Cole Company. ![]() At some point William met Albert Fairbanks and discovered their common interests. The banjo was the their instrument of choice. He and his brother Frank Cole became interested in music and teaching. In 1875 he started by building simple inexpensive 5-string banjos and within 5 years he was living in Chelsea, Suffolk, Massachusetts with wife Emma and son Curtis and had established himself as a credible luthier. He was a banjo player with a desire to build his own instruments. This is a forum for previous years' and on-going banjo research projects.Albert Conant Fairbanks was born in 1852 in Sterling, Massachusetts. ![]()
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