Expert: Jim Ryan - 5/21/2007

Question
I have a zither banjo manufactured by the above.

The Serial Number is 5476 261

The banjo is in excellent condition complete with case.

I would like a valuation price for insurance purposes.

I would also like to know the date of manufacture.

Regards

Tony

Answer
Hi Tony--

As far as I can tell, Cammeyer-labeled banjos were sold from 1900 to 1939.  He was Brooklyn-born, but he made his banjos in England, where he had emigrated. Valuation of antique instruments is something beyond my particular expertise, but I would strongly recommend that you contact Bernunzio Vintage Instruments (www.bernunzio.com), a Rochester, NY, dealer with an excellent reputation for selling and appraising rare banjos.  Currently, he lists on his website inventory two zither banjos.  In my estimation, zither banjos are probably sought after more by collectors than by players, although I've not personally played one and so can't say why this would be so in terms of their sound.

Best regards,

~Jim