Fairbanks Chronology

Here is a more extensive chronology of
A. C. Fairbanks
which includes:
his family events (shown to the left)
his business affairs (shown in the center)
and his patent matters (shown to the right)

YEAR	AGE	HISTORY
		<-- Family Events Business Affairs Patent Matters -->

1852	0	A C Fairbanks born in Sterling, MA on September 5, 1852

1868	16	Moved to Boston
		Worked in Quincy Market for 1 year

1870	18	Worked in the fountain syringe business for his brother from 1870-1879

1875	23	Started as a banjo manufacturer; A.C. Fairbanks-Maker, Boston

1879	27	June 17, 1879; Design Patent No. D11248 - Rubber Fountain-Syringe
		"Fairbanks took out a patent on syringes and manufactured them himself for a few years"
		Son Curtis Stowell Fairbanks born October 25, 1879

1880	28	Began manufacture of banjos, mandolins & guitars as Fairbanks & Cole
		at 121 Court Street

1881	29	Daughter Ethel Conant Fairbanks born December 22, 1881

1883	31	David Day joins Fairbanks

1884	32	October 21, 1884; Patent No.306,731-banjo case
		Son Albert Henry Fairbanks born June 18, 1884

1885	33	July 14, 1885; Patent No.322054-tuning peg support (with W.A.Cole)
		October 6, 1885; Patent No.327,779 - Bowl shaped metal tone chamber

1887	35	March 29, 1887; Patent No.360,005 - perforated tube tone ring, bracket band, shoe style neck clamp

1889	37	Daughter Grace Francis Fairbanks born May 28, 1889

1890	38	A.C. Fairbanks & Co.
		Introduced "Electric" model banjo
		also Fairbanks, Sanborn & Cole, bicycle manufacturer
		March 11, 1890; Patent No.423,231-metal rod tone ring, grooved tension hoop
		December 30, 1890; Patent No.443,510-Electric & Curtis Electric tone rings

1892	40	A.C. Fairbanks
		Introduced wood rims for bicycles & received patents in 1893-1897

1893	41	A.C. Fairbanks Company, Inc.
		January 10, 1893; Patent No.489,470-tone ring truss as an integral part of the inner layer
		May 9, 1893; Patent No.496971-laminated bicycle rim similar to multilayer banjo rim
		December 5, 1893; Patent No.510,335-mandolin body and tailpiece
		Served in Sommerville City Council
		Reelected in 1894

~1894	42	Sold his interest in the Fairbanks banjo company
		Fairbanks Wood Rim Co., 5 Appleton St - bicycle company
		Went to Europe in the interests of the Fairbanks Wood Rim Co who had a large plant in England and the US
		December 4, 1894; Patent No.530172-reinforced area of wooden rim to accommodate tire valve

1895	43	April 9, 1895; Patent No.537188-waterproof cloth covering on wooden bicycle rim

1896	44	Moved to Tonowanda, N.Y.

1897	45	Grace Francis Fairbanks died May 11, 1897
		December 7, 1897; Patent No.594939-adjustable bicycle hand grips

1904	52	March 4, 1904 fire destroys Fairbanks Company; sold to Vega

1906	54	Worked for 13 years at Waterproof Paint Co, Watertown, MA
		Served last few years as President

1919	67	Died on October 10, 1919

1945		Curtis Stowell Fairbanks died March 13, 1945
		Albert Henry Fairbanks died June 28, 1945

- Return to main Fairbanks Banjos page -