A brief chronology of A.C. Fairbanks
and his banjo companies
(A more extensive chronology can be found here,
and a Fairbanks Family tree can be found here.)
1852 - September 5; Albert Conant Fairbanks born in
Sterling,
MA.
1875 - Fairbanks starts producing banjos as A.C.
Fairbanks
- Maker, Boston.
1880 - Fairbanks & Cole begin partnership
to manufacture banjos.
1883 - David L. Day begins working as an errand boy at
the Fairbanks company.
1890 - F&C partnership ends; A.C. Fairbanks
&
Co. continues to manufacture banjos.
-
"Electric"
model
is introduced.
-
December
30;
patent issued for Fairbanks' "Electric" tone ring.
1892 - Fairbanks introduces the "Columbian" model for
the Columbian Exposition of 1893.
1894 - Fairbanks company incorporates as A.C.
Fairbanks
& Co., Inc.
1895 - Fairbanks leaves his company; David Cummings and
Frank Dodge take over with Day as manager.
-
Metal
nameplate
introduced on Fairbanks banjos.
1901 - "Whyte Laydie" model is introduced.
1904 - March 4; a catastrophic fire destroys the
Fairbanks
factory.
-
March
21;
Fairbanks company sold to Vega for $925 + $1.00 for
the rights to 4 patents.
1909 - "Tubaphone" model is introduced.
1910 - Metal nameplate replaced with stamp "FAIRBANKS
BANJO made by THE VEGA COMPANY".
1919 - October 10; Fairbanks dies
-
Banjos
now
stamped "The Vega Company".
1922 - David Day leaves Vega.
- Return to main
Fairbanks
Banjos page -
Please contact me with any additions, corrections or comments in general.
Thanks to Ed Britt for helpful suggestions.