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Lardy's Ukulele database
  • Makers Names
    • . A .
      • Abbott
      • Albert & Son (Aus)
      • Albert & Son (USA)
      • Albo
      • Aloha Mfg Co.
      • AMI Musical Instruments
      • Angel (PDRC)
      • aNueNue
      • APC
      • Aquila
      • Aria
      • Armadillo Enterprises
      • Ashton
      • AXL
      • Ayers Uluru
      • A Chinese factories
      • A Luthiers
    • . B .
      • Bacon & Day
      • Barnes & Mullins
      • Barth, Lutchen and Feinberg
      • Beare & Son
      • Beltona
      • Bergstrom
      • Blackbird Guitars
      • Bluebird Mfg. Co.
      • Bohemian Guitars
      • Boosey & Hawkes
      • Boulder Creek
      • Breedlove
      • Brueko
      • Bruno
      • Bugsgear
      • Buegeleisen and Jacobson
      • Bushman
      • Byron Mauzy
      • B Luthiers
    • . C .
      • Cammeyer, Alfred
      • Candelas Guitars
      • Carnival
      • Chang, Sam
      • Cikuan
      • Cole Clark
      • Collings Guitars
      • Compass Rose
      • Cordoba
      • Crews Guitars
      • C Luthiers
    • . D .
      • D'Angelico Guitars
      • D'Angelico, John
      • Daewon
      • Dallas
      • David Wexler & Co.
      • de Vékey, Aladar
      • Deviser Co.
      • Dias, Augusto
      • Disney
      • Ditson
      • Dobro
      • Dupont
      • D Luthiers
    • . E .
      • do Espirito Santo, Jose
      • East-Start
      • Eastman Strings
      • Eastwood
      • Ebblewhite
      • Eko
      • Emenee
      • Enya
      • Epiphone pre takeover
      • Epiphone post takeover
      • Ernest Ka'ai Mfg. co.
      • Essex, Clifford
      • E Luthiers
    • . F .
      • Fanner Guitar Works
      • Favilla
      • Fender
      • Ferry & Co.
      • Fin-Der
      • Fletcher, Coppock and Newman
      • Framus
      • Francis, Day & Hunter
      • Fujigen
      • F Luthiers
    • . G .
      • G-String
      • Gallotone
      • Gélas
      • George Formby Society
      • Gewa
      • George Houghton & Sons
      • Giannini
      • Gibson
      • Globe Music Co
      • Godin
      • Gold Tone
      • G Puglisi Reale
      • Gremlin
      • Gretsch
      • Grossman
      • Guyatone
      • G Luthiers
    • . H .
      • Hamano
      • Hana Lima 'Ia
      • Harp Guitar Co.
      • Harmony
      • Hawaiian Mahogany Company
      • Hilo
      • Hinano
      • Hoffmann Lutherie
      • Hofner
      • Hohner
      • Holt, Owen
      • Hopf
      • Hora
      • Howson
      • Hosco
      • Hoshino
      • H Chinese factories
      • H Luthiers
    • . I .
      • Ibáñez, Salvador
      • iUke
      • Izzo Musical Instruments
      • I Luthiers
    • . J .
      • J.&A.Margolin
      • Jade Australia
      • Jetel
      • Jisheng
      • JMG (Jack Maskiell Guitars)
      • John Hornby Skewes
      • Jolli Joe
      • Jose Fernandez of Saxony
      • J R Stewart
      • Julve, Telesforo
      • J Chinese factories
      • J Luthiers
    • . K .
      • Ka'ai, Ernest
      • Kakumae
      • Kala
      • Kamaka
      • Kamoa
      • Kanda Shokai
      • Kanile'a
      • Kapok (PDRC)
      • Kawai Teisco
      • Kay
      • Keech
      • Keli'i
      • Kiwaya
      • Knutsen, Chris
      • Ko'Aloha
      • Ko'olau
      • Kremona
      • Kurosawa & Co.
      • Kumalae
      • K Luthiers
    • . L .
      • La Foley, George
      • Lag
      • Lange
      • Lark (PDRC)
      • Larrivee
      • Larson Bros.
      • Leilani
      • Levin
      • LoPrinzi
      • Ludwig
      • Luna Gakki
      • Lyon & Healy
      • L Luthier
    • . M .
      • Maccaferri
      • Magic Fluke Co.
      • Mainland
      • Majestic
      • Martin
      • Maton
      • Mattel
      • Mele
      • Malokia
      • Marquês
      • Mid East
      • Mitsuba (Gakki)
      • Montgomery Ward
      • Mossman, George
      • Musikalia
      • Musima
      • Mya Moe
      • M Luthiers
    • . N .
      • Nalu
      • National Resonators
      • Northern
      • Nunes, Leonardo
      • Nunes, Manuel
      • N Luthiers
    • . O .
      • Ohana
      • Omi International
      • Ortega
      • Oscar Schmidt
      • Outdoor Ukuleles
      • Ovation
      • Ozark
      • O Luthiers
    • . P .
      • Pahulele
      • Parrot (PDRC)
      • Peavey
      • Pennino Music Co.
      • Perlberg & Halpin
      • Pinol Guitars
      • PMICo
      • Pukanala
      • P Luthiers
    • . Q .
      • QTE Music
    • . R .
      • Regal
      • Reinhardt
      • Richter Mfg. Co.
      • Risa
      • Rodriguez, Manuel
      • Rokkomann
      • Romero Creations
      • Rose Morris
      • RUMC
      • R Luthier
    • . S .
      • Sahlein
      • Sam Osborn Mfg. Co.
      • Samick
      • Santa Cruz Guitars
      • Schireson Bros.
      • Schoenhut
      • Seilen
      • Selcol
      • Sherman Clay & Co
      • SHS International
      • Sinomusic
      • Slingerland
      • Skylark (PDRC)
      • Snail Supreme
      • Sonora
      • Southern California Music Co
      • St. Louis Music Inc.
      • Stadlmair
      • Stagg
      • Strohviols
      • Strunal
      • Summers Bros.
      • Suzuki Violin Co.
      • Swagerty
      • S Luthiers
    • . T .
      • Takamine
      • Takumi
      • Tangi
      • Tanglewood
      • Targ&Dinner
      • Tatay, Vicente
      • Taylor Guitars
      • Team International
      • Tenon Industrial Co.
      • Tom
      • Tombo
      • Tonk Bros
      • Turturro, Nicola
      • T Chinese factories
      • T Luthiers
    • . U .
      • U-King
      • Ukoustic
      • U.S. Music Co.
      • United Guitar Co.
      • U Luthiers
    • . V .
      • Van Allen
      • Vega
      • Vox
      • V Chinese factories
      • V Luthiers
    • . W .
      • W. G. Coker
      • Wagas Crafts
      • Weissenborn, Hermann
      • Werco Drum Co.
      • Westheimer Sales Co
      • Weymann
      • Windsor
      • Winkler Woods
      • Woodi
      • Wurlitzer
      • W Luthiers
    • . X .
      • Xiaomi Corp.
    • . Y .
      • Yamaha
      • Yasuma & Co.
      • Y Luthiers
    • . Z .
      • Zepeda Guitars
      • Zimmermann
      • Zither Heaven
    • Multiple Brands
      • Post War Far East
      • XX Hawaiian Makers from the 2nd half of the 20th C.
      • xx Small 21stC. importers/producers/distributors from South America
      • 19th / 20th century Hawaiian Makers
      • 20th C. Asian Makers
      • 20th c. British Makers
      • 20th c German Makers
      • 20th c French Makers
      • 20th c Italian Makers
      • 20th c. Spanish Makers
      • 20th c US Makers
      • 21st c. Budget Brands
  • Glossary of Terms
    • Autoplayers
    • the Big K's
    • Biscuit Tin
    • Cigar Box
    • Cocolele
    • Guitalele
    • Harp Ukulele
    • Kit Ukulele
    • Lili'u
    • Pineapple Ukulele
    • Resonators
    • Schutzmarke
    • Tabu
    • Tahitian Ukulele
    • Taropatch
    • Tiple Ukulele
    • Ukulele Bass
    • Ukulele Scales
      • Mini Scale
      • Soprano Scale
      • Concert Scale
      • Tenor Scale
      • Baritone Scale
      • Super Scales
      • Standard Approved
    • Parts of a Ukulele
    • General Terms
    • Wood related Terms
  • Musings on the Ukulele
    • Endorsed Ukuleles
    • Hawaiian Mandolin
    • Hawaiian Tourist "Tat"
    • Questionable Reputation
    • Plastic Uke History
  • Other Chordophones
    • Banjos
      • Tenor Banjo
      • Zither Banjo
    • Far Eastern Instruments
      • Cak and Cuk
    • Guitars
      • Manouche Guitar
      • Octave Guitar
      • Requinto Guitar
      • Slide Guitar
      • Tenor Guitar
    • Iberian Instruments
      • Braguinha
      • Cavaquinho
      • Guitarrico
      • Rajao
      • Tiple /Timple
    • Latin American Instruments
      • Brazil Cavaco
      • Charango
      • Colombian Tiple
      • Jarana Jarocha
      • Latin chordophone makers
    • Mandolins
      • Banjo Mandolin
      • Mandolinetto
    • Strumstick
Lardy's Ukulele database

Favilla

Favilla History Website

Standard Soprano
Teardrop Soprano

A. Favilla & Sons were one of the major New York Ukulele makers. Brothers John (Giovanni) and Joseph opened their first music shop in the US in 1890, (the family had been making instruments in Italy prior to that), and in 1884 they started the musical instrument making company, initially as Favilla Bros. The company made all sorts of chordophone including some violins, moved around New York, tinkered with the name, (in the end it was Favilla Guitars inc.) and finally ceased production in 1973. 

From 1890 to 1910(?) the Instruments including Ukuleles were labelled Marca Aquila, then they were labelled Favilla Brothers until 1919 when they became Favilla, (This is the official line but I know its not completely true as I have seen a Favilla made Winner with the Marca Aquila sound hole label in it; and the Winner name wasn't registered until 1924 by the Manhattan Band Instrument Co. a firm incorporated in 1921 so it can't just have been rebranding old stock! it is also the case I have seen quite a few Marca Aquila Ukuleles which pre 1910 would have been very early for a mainland Ukulele - though they never looked that early; and nowhere outside of Favilla history are they mentioned? Mind you Favilla's Official line is they didn't do OEM - apart from all the times they did!! (so I take all of Favilla's official history with a large grain of salt!) 

What is for sure is in the 1920 Favilla was recorded as employing 55 staff so it was no longer just the brothers. They did make some instruments to be re-branded by Buegeleisen & Jacobson but one of the currently living Favillas told me that this was the only OEM work and with everything else, if it doesn't say Favilla, (or Marca Aquila) on it then its not, (though he told someone else that Favilla made some Baritones for K and K, and this was the only OEM work? And the Marca Aquila Winner? and a Barth Feinberg branded soprano??) 

Though probably most famous now as a Ukulele maker only about 10% of their output was Ukuleles, making Guitars, Mandolins, Banjos and the like as well.

They mainly made Sopranos including the Teardrop, plus there was the Wimbrola, (designed with the assistance of Dale Wimbrow, a popular radio star of the time and having 6 strings in 4 courses), and I have seen a Concert scale Favilla Taropatch, but these very are rare. They did make quite a few Baritones in the 1950's and 60's, and they are one of the firms, (Vega being the other), who claim to have invented the Baritone, (another claim that doesn't bear close scrutiny). They also, certainly in the 20's made some Banjoleles, though they are not famous for their banjo manufacture.

Afson

Afson was a brand name distributed by the company A. Favilla & Sons. The people running it were blood related to the Favillas, but it was a separate company run for a short while by another part of the family. I have seen Afson Banjoleles and Soprano Ukuleles, (I don't know if Favilla made them for Afson or if Afson made them themselves?).

Baritone
Afson

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