First started with Alfred D Cammayer forming a partnership in 1893 for teaching studios dissolving in 1900 and although Clifford Essex models were made by other makers at the time they did make fantastic banjos in around 1904 with Alfred Dare as foreman and notably Will Mitchell. Essex made banjos are exquisite. On the demise of Alfred Weaver eses and Cammayer brought his stock and turned out Weaver banjos which were difficult to distinguish between actual Weaver made banjos.