Tangible Media: Removable Storage of Image, Sound, Motion and Data
Tangible Media: Removable Storage of Image, Sound, Motion and Data
Tangible Media: Removable Storage of Image, Sound, Motion and Data
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Banjo-Matic

Title:

Polly Wolly Doodle

Date:

1962

Material:

Vacuformed plastic, nylon string

Company:

Kenner

Location:

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

A tune strip (called a "tune player" by Kenner) for the Kenner Banjo-Matic, an automatic banjo toy. There are eight keys positioned on the fretboard over the single string. Depressing a key holds the string against the corresponding fret. Although the keys could be depressed manually, the normal way to play the banjo is to turn the crank, which plucks the string as it pulls the tune strip through player. Since there is only one string, the instrument is always in tune with itself (although the overall pitch can be change with a tuning peg).The strips include "Oh Susanna," "Camptown Races," "Skip to My Lou," and similar traditional folk songs.

Tuning peg. The box included a replacement string.
The banjo came with 20 tune strips. There were no instructions so I'm not sure of the significance of the two colors.
Note claim that "children love to play their favorites over and over," a possible source of regret on Christmas morning.
References
⌃  Back to citationCoopee, Tod. 2026. Banjo-Matic from Kenner (1962). Toy Tales. Accessed Jun. 11, 2026.