During the early 1900s George S. Sandstrom, of Oakland, California, made what is called a Banjo Ukulele, or banjolele. A combination of a ukulele and a banjo, which at the time sold for about $2.00.
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On 12 December 1917 Sandstrom filed patent application number 206,746. He was awarded patent number 1,354, 268, titled simply "Banjo," on 28 September 1920.
The patent specifications describe Sandstrom's invention, in part, as "...a tightening device for banjo heads and other musical instruments having an open circular rim, a flexible head interposed within the opening of the said rim, an annular lip integral therewith and extending inwardly from the top of said rim, a flat top ring fixedly to the inside circumference of the said rim over which said head is drawn.
George Sandstrom's instruments had light Maple necks with a medium dark maple body. There were also a few made that sported a beautiful burled California Redwood body, and resonator.