Richard Shellard was an instrument maker specialising in violins but also doing many other instrument repairs. In the mid 1970’s he was asked to make Banjo Ukuleles for 'The George Formby Society' members. He made a few and although his instruments were unusual, the inlay work and finish were excellent. He seemed to take the design into the ‘Space Age’ because the shape of the resonators always seemed to resemble ‘flying saucers’. The sides were angled to the bezel and the vellum. They were powerful instruments but were also quite heavy. This is an example of his design. The resonator has a concave back with a top tensioned vellum (16 Tension rods)An ebony fretboard with inlaid mother of pearl dots. The peghead has inlaid mother of pearl dots and teardrops. Richard Shellard sadly died in 1985