Farris

American Banjo Maker

John Farris of Hartford, Connecticut working in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was reputed to be the first person to make a Tenor Banjo and also the first to make a Mandolin Banjo. He also patented the Banjolin in 1885 although it was available in Soprano, Tenor and bass models, and as 4 or 5 string variants and is not the small 4 string banjo we think of today.