Ephemera: The Jolly Cowboys (1935-1939)

This interesting East Coast (note the Uxbridge, MA photo) "cowboy" group ("The Jolly Cowboys") shows the development of instruments over the 30s in the hands of your average musician. Note the 1939 photo up top shows an early electric (Kay-made?) "Spanish" guitar and full-on resonator banjo.

Meanwhile, back in '35 this fella is using a funky harmonica holder and an old Harmony parlor box.

That wood-bodied National, however, would probably be doing a pretty good job keeping up with the tenor banjos.

Tenor banjo upgrade.

Fancier hat and fresh Gibson L-30.