Nelson Banjo

High-end, metal body. H.C. Nelson Chicago. Likely made by Schall. Length: 95cm.

In an 1899 issue of THE CADENZA, H. C. Nelson of North Evanston, Illinois, is listed as a maker of banjos. In the 1911 "BMG" magazine, a banjo by Nelson, of Chicago, Illinois, is offered for sale.

J.B. Schall (1852 -- 1907) was born in St Joseph, Montana. He played the banjo and while still a young man joined a minstrel troupe with which he toured extensively for several years. His familiarity with minstrel performers and theatrical people, combined with the growing demand for banjos induced him to open a factory in Chicago in 1870. Schall became one of the finest banjo makers in America and it was said the reason for the excellence of Schall's banjos was due to the fact that he was an exceptionally skilled mechanic who worked at the bench beside his five employees. His banjos became justly celebrated and were in demand among all the leading banjoists of the day.

The Meisel Collection. This instrument is being sold from The Meisel Collection assembled over a period of forty years by an accomplished attorney from Princeton, New Jersey. The owner traveled the world in search of rare, interesting, and handsome instruments to fill a collection that until now was displayed in his beautiful Princeton home.

Please note: The items in the Meisel Collection are being sold F.O.B. Princeton, New Jersey. The recommended shipper is the U.P.S. Store, 174 Nassau St., Princeton, NJ 08542 which has extensive experience shipping fragile auction items. The Store can be emailed at store2026@theupsstore.com or called at 609-924-0759. The auction house makes no commission on shipping; payment for shipping is made by the buyer directly to the shipper. Although buyers are free to use any shipper they choose, we have found this shipper to be fair and reliable.

Condition: More detailed condition reports and additional photographs are available by request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that the lot is in very fine condition. Please message us through the online bidding platform or email Guernsey's at auctions@guernseys.com to request a more thorough condition report.