Ludwig

Ludwig (and Ludwig)
The Ludwig Drum Company was, (and still is), a well-known drum manufacturer, started in 1909 by brothers William and Theo Ludwig in Chicago.

The company, originally called Ludwig & Ludwig, began manufacturing Banjos, (and Banjo Ukuleles), in the mid-1920s. This was done in order to win a contract with the US Marines Marching Band who wanted a single supplier for all of their drum based instruments and Slingerland had started drum production to compete for this contract. Unfortunately they moved in to Banjos just as the instruments popularity started to wane and this, along with the high prices for instruments, lost Ludwig over $150,000 and nearly bankrupted them. To avoid this Ludwig was acquired by Brass Instrument manufacturer C.G.Conn in 1930, (who wanted the marching band drum contracts), and the loss making Banjo production was halted in 1932 never to restart.

Like their Drums, Ludwig Banjos and Banjoleles were all top quality and aimed at the professional player. Even today Ludwig Banjos are considered some of the best Banjos ever made.

During the period Ludwig made Banjos, they also put out a range of Tenor Guitars, (I'm not sure if they actually made any of them? I have seen a Harmony made one with an aero bridge), but as far as I'm aware they never put out any wooden Ukuleles