S. S. Stewart Mandolin-Banjo
This one's been there and back!
After the death of Samuel Swaim Stewart shortly after the turn of the century, his sons took over the company and "diversified" the line including some hybrid instruments such as this mandolin-banjo.
Mandolin banjos have a banjo body with the neck of a mandolin, and were popular among mandolin players who wanted more volume to play in jazz bands.
This one was carried through the Great World War by a soldier who gave us a written record of his travels, written right on the head.
Gryphon has been its retirement home for nearly 30 years now.