In the early 20th century, Epiphone was known as one of New York''s premier archtop builders. See 14 exquisite examples of early works and learn how the company changed in the first three decades of the 20th Century.
"This early Banjo Mando still bears the House of Stathopoulo stamp. The first decades of the 20th century saw a mandolin boom, but after WWI, banjos had begun to overtake mandos. In the early '20s, Epi oversaw the design of the company's banjos, patenting his own tone-ring and rim construction. This Banjo Mando bridged the gap between the company's two popular instruments. It features flamed-maple sides, a maple neck, rosewood fretboard, rim-mounted bridge, and a pigskin head."