“The Encore" Automatic Banjo Made by American Automusic Co., New York City (distributed by the American Automatic Banjo Co. of New Jersey) c. 1901 The Murtogh D. Guinness Collection Morris Museum

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Imagine being able to "play" the banjo without taking any lessons! Invented by Charles B. Kendall in 1896, the nickel activated "Encore" was a familiar sight at amusement arcades, soda fountains and hotel lobbies. Eager listeners dropped in a coin and watched four metal "fingers" pluck the strings along with 10 finger-buttons on the banjo's bridge that determined the sound of each note. The hidden, punched music roll was programmed with popular tunes of the day, including the two-step and march. A rarity of its time, the Encore ran on electrical power and could be sold only where power was available. It was typically sold or leased to professional route operators. They would install and maintain the instrument on-site at public venues, and return weekly to change the music and split the revenue with the proprietor.

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