Instrument: banjo, Rex Professional

Instrument: banjo, Rex Professional

Banjo

Musical instruments

This Rex Professional banjo was made by the Gretsch Manufacturing Company in New York. The owner of this banjo was Joseph Lane Hall (1895-1972) of Buncombe County. He is reputed to have walked barefoot across Hooker's Gap to purchase this banjo for $4. This manufactured banjo is a good example of musical instruments readily available by the late 19th century for those who could afford a store-bought instrument or for people who wanted to craft their own version. The Gretsch Company, founded in New York City by Friedrich Gretsch in 1883, is still in existence today although they have relocated to Savannah, Georgia and mainly produce electric guitars. The Rex brand name was produced by Gretsch from 1902 through the mid-1930s and their banjos were considered entry-level instruments.

Fred. Gretsch Mfg. Co.

Henry G. Hall Collection

Hunter Library Digital Collections, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/

jpg;

crafts (art genres)

eng

StillImage

13785

https://southernappalachiandigitalcollections.org/object/13785

2007-03-01

All rights reserved. For permissions and use, contact Mountain Heritage Center, Western Carolina U, Cullowhee, NC 28723;

Buncombe County (N.C.)

Appalachian Region, Southern

35" x 11"(dimension)

Craft Revival