Fairbanks, A.C./Fairbanks & Cole/A.C. Fairbanks & Co./Vega Fairbanks

Luthier A.C. Fairbanks started building banjos in 1875 and continued under the name A.C. Fairbanks until 1880. In 1880, W.A. Cole, a banjo player and teacher from Boston, joined forces with Fairbanks and they started the Fairbanks & Cole company. They continued to expand their banjo line until 1890 when they parted ways to each form a new company. In 1890, Fairbanks started building banjos under the name A.C. Fairbanks & Co. and it was around this time that they started to produce a few mandolins. Fairbanks left the company in 1897 and David Cummings, Frank Dodge, and David Day took over the company. In 1904, Vega purchased the company and instruments were labled Vega Fairbanks until circa 1920 when they ceased production.