Samuel C. Osborn Mfg. Co.

Samuel C. Osborn Mfg. Co.
Samuel Osborn was a music shop owner and piano distributor who in 1916 founded The Samuel C. Osborn Manufacturing Co. in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

At the outset of this venture Osborn stated "The concern will specialize in Ukuleles and import others from the Hawaiian Islands. The manufacture of the domestic article is expected to be specialized in by the concern and the incorporators of the new company predict that it will become the largest manufacturer of Ukuleles in this country."

Banjoleles, Mandolins, Guitars and Zithers were soon added to the catalogue, and by 1920 they had started production of Saxophones too. The firm started making Piano's in early 1921 and opened a second factory in Chicago with the help of a large bank loan. Less than a year later the firm was on the verge of bankruptcy, production ceased, then Samuel Osborn himself died, age 47 (or 50? I have seen both), of complications following an appendectomy in November, and the firm closed down finally in 1923 with a lot of legal wrangling by all of the creditors.

In the beginning the Ukuleles and other instruments were branded SammO and had a little black triangle on the headstock. In 1920, a new brand SammoS was introduced for the very top end koa Ukuleles and other chordophones These had a quartered circle as the headstock logo with two of the wedges being coloured black