Ukulele banjo and carrying case, used by George Formby
Ukulele Banjo
ca.1930 (probably 1932) (made)
ca.1930 (probably 1932) (made)
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This is a Gibson banjolele, one of the banjoleles and ukuleles used and collected by the Lancashire singer and comic performer George Formby (1904-1961). It appears to have been one of his favourites however since he can be seen playing it on several recordings. He last used it on 16 December 1960 on The Friday Show, his last television show. Since it wasn't one of the instruments in the sale of his effects in June 1961 he may have given it away after the show and before his death on 6 March 1961.
George Formby, born in Wigan, has been called 'the popular singer who symbolised the 1930s'. With his toothy grin and irrepressible high spirits, his stage character was the cheerful 'urban little man', a gormless but loveable innocent who overcame misfortune effortlessly. He became hugely popular in the north of England in the 1930s, and known nationally though his films. After appearing in No Limit,1935, he made two films a year, and twenty-two by the end of 1940. He appeared at the London Palladium and was awarded an OBE in 1946. He is best remembered as the little man with the ukulele, which he used to accompany songs including 'Chinese Laundry Blues', 'Mr. Wu', and 'When I'm Cleaning Windows'.
George Formby, born in Wigan, has been called 'the popular singer who symbolised the 1930s'. With his toothy grin and irrepressible high spirits, his stage character was the cheerful 'urban little man', a gormless but loveable innocent who overcame misfortune effortlessly. He became hugely popular in the north of England in the 1930s, and known nationally though his films. After appearing in No Limit,1935, he made two films a year, and twenty-two by the end of 1940. He appeared at the London Palladium and was awarded an OBE in 1946. He is best remembered as the little man with the ukulele, which he used to accompany songs including 'Chinese Laundry Blues', 'Mr. Wu', and 'When I'm Cleaning Windows'.
Object details
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| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Title | Ukulele banjo and carrying case, used by George Formby (generic title) |
| Brief description | Gibson ukulele banjo, ca.1930, in a carrying case, used by the Lancashire singer and comedy performer George Formby (1904-1961) |
| Physical description | Gibson ukulele banjo in a black carrying case lined with blue brushed cotton material. The ukulele banjo is 'Style UB2 deluxe', with a large 8 inch rim, finished in sunburst maple, and fitted with a flat resonator back. It has fourteen tension rods and fifteen nickel silver frets. The fingerboard is inlaid with three white position dots. There are four fishing line strings. 'Gibson', in white cursive lettering, is painted at the head of the peg-head, and on the reverse, incised into the wood the letters 'DG-2200' (the factory mark) and below them,'198' (the production number). On the vellum is written: 'Window cleaner', also: 'High', and on an envelope attached to the inside of the lid are the words 'High Uke in F'. |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by George Sandbach Borwick |
| Object history | This is one of the ukuleles used and collected by the Lancashire singer and comic performer George Formby (1904-1961). Other ukuleles of his, including 5 Gibsons, were sold at the sale of his effects, after his death, at his house in Lytham St. Annes, in June 1961, but this was not one of them. This appears to have been one of his favourite ukuleles because he is playing it on several recordings. The last time he used it was on 16 December 1960 on his last television show called 'The Friday Show', and since it wasn't in the sale he probably gave it away after the show and before his death on 6 March 1961. Formby used fishing line for his strings. |
| Summary | This is a Gibson banjolele, one of the banjoleles and ukuleles used and collected by the Lancashire singer and comic performer George Formby (1904-1961). It appears to have been one of his favourites however since he can be seen playing it on several recordings. He last used it on 16 December 1960 on The Friday Show, his last television show. Since it wasn't one of the instruments in the sale of his effects in June 1961 he may have given it away after the show and before his death on 6 March 1961. George Formby, born in Wigan, has been called 'the popular singer who symbolised the 1930s'. With his toothy grin and irrepressible high spirits, his stage character was the cheerful 'urban little man', a gormless but loveable innocent who overcame misfortune effortlessly. He became hugely popular in the north of England in the 1930s, and known nationally though his films. After appearing in No Limit,1935, he made two films a year, and twenty-two by the end of 1940. He appeared at the London Palladium and was awarded an OBE in 1946. He is best remembered as the little man with the ukulele, which he used to accompany songs including 'Chinese Laundry Blues', 'Mr. Wu', and 'When I'm Cleaning Windows'. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.232:1 to 2-2002 |
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| Record created | May 1, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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