JE Brewster emigrated from Newfoundland in 1872 to the UK and shared a workshop with JE Dallas for a few years. Brewster was a rogue and well have made banjos but these examples of banjos are where the manufacturer’s name has been rubbed out and Brewsters stamp applied as if his own. The case with SS Stuart is well documented. A JB Schall banjo within this collection is stamped as Brewster.

Writer of music and performer including of music halls. Though Brewster was not well liked by other makers, his reputation preceded him but he was a brilliant musician until 1900 and perhaps beyond. During one performance, local makers such as Dallas got into trouble for disrupting one of his concerts. Brewster left the UK and lived in Paris. His legacy is banjos with a Brewster name arouse suspicion as a result of his dubious activities.