A drum constructed of a tanned animal skin and a hollow chamber, is one of the earliest artistic works of humankind. From there, its not so very far to a banjo. Ancient banjo related instruments can be found in many civilizations, but the African version is what was brought to America over 300 years ago. Once on American soil, the bright, enthusiastic sound of the banjo became part of a nation in growth and part of the America’s soul.
ODE BANJOS 1960-1966
I started to design and build ODE banjos about 1960 in Boulder, Colorado. From 1960 to 1966 ODE made some 2,000 banjos in Boulder, before Baldwin Piano Company of Cincinnati, Ohio became the new owner in 1966. Baldwin Continued making the Baldwin-ODE Banjos in Boulder for two years before moving the company to Boonville, Arkansas in 1968, where they produced several thousand Baldwin-ODEs until 1980, when Baldwin went bankrupt and stopped the ODE banjo production.
ODE BANJOS CATALOGUES 1960-1966
ODE Banjos was started by Charles Starr Ogsbury in Boulder, Colorado in 1960. ODE made about 2,000 banjos and published three ODE catalogs, one Muse Dealer catalogue, and one ODE parts catalogue before being sold to Baldwin Piano of Cincinnati,Ohio in January, 1966. Baldwin continued building the ODE Banjos in Boulder for two years before moving the company to DeQueen, Arkansas. in 1968.
BALDWIN ODE BANJOS CATALOGUES 1966-1980
Baldwin Piano Company of Cincinnati, Ohio purchased ODE Banjos in January 1966 and continued ODE production in Boulder for two years before moving the company to DeQueen Arkansas in 1968. , .The first Baldwin catalogue was published in 1967 while still in Boulder. . In 1970 ODE production was moved by Baldwin from DeQueen to Booneville, Arkansas where the Gretsch ODE catalogue was published in 1975 . . Baldwin continued building the ODE Banjos in Boonville until 1980 when Baldwin went bankrupt due to over expanding in the banking business.
OME BANJOS 1970-2024
In 1970, I started designing and building OME Banjos in a shop I built two miles West of Gold Hill, Colorado. The land the shop was on, was part of an old homestead at 8700 foot elevation, and was surrounded by the Rosevelt National Forest. This new location was one of the most beautiful places on earth, but OME soon outgrew the space and moved to Boulder, Colprado in 1972 where OME built some 7,600 banjos before Gold Tone Music Group became the new owner in December 2023. Gold Tone immediately moved the shop to Titusville Florida , where they are still located.
OME BANJOS CATALOGUES 1970-2023
In 1970, OME Banjos was started by Charles Starr Ogsbury in a shop he built two miles west of Gold Hill Colorado. The OME shop was built on old homestead land at 8700 feet elevation, and was surrounded by the Rosevelt National Forest. where the first 300 OMEs were made and the 1971 and 1972 catalogues were pub;ished. This location was one of the most beautiful places on earth, but OME soon outgrew the space and the company moved down the mountain to Boulder, in 1972. While in Boulder OME made some 7,300 banjos and published 6 more catalogs
before being so;d to Gold Tone Music Group in December 2023. Gold Tone immediately moved the OME shop to Titusville Florida , where they are still located.
STARR Banjo 2024-
