John C. Haynes and Company Banjo

"Bay State" number 325. Length: 86cm.

In 1856 Boston, Massachusetts, Oliver Ditson employed John C. Haynes to lead the former move into musical instrument manufacture by setting up the John C Haynes Company to make a range of fretted instruments. They were arguably the first manufacturer of stringed instruments producing significant numbers for the general population. Many significant personalities who influenced the developing music industry started work with John Haynes including P. J. Healy and George Washburn Lyon. Oliver Ditson helped them set up their firm of Lyon & Healy in Chicago in 1864. The John Church Company was also a Ditson offshoot and as mentioned, many important luthiers learned their trade under the guidance of Bay State guitars. Haynes made for other makes but is mostly known for Bay State instruments, which are well received. It's an "A-scale" banjo with a short 24" scale length and 10" rim. By 1895 guitars and mandolins made by Haynes new venture "The Bay State Company" were being sold by the F J Martin Company of Kansas City, as well as firms in Boston, New York & Philadelphia. The importance and historical significance on the development of musical tastes and expectations of the American people in all things "guitar" could be the result of J. C. Haynes Co.

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.