After a disagreement with Cole, Fairbanks started his own company as A.C.Fairbanks and Company in 1890 but left in 1896 with day staying in charge. In 1904, a fire razed the A.C.Fairbanks & Co building to the ground and the company was sold to the Vega Company who made mandolins and guitars. They started manufacturing and selling banjos under the A.C.Fairbanks label. In 1910, Vega was marketing banjos as 'FAIRBANKS BANJO, MADE BY THE VEGA COMPANY BOSTON MASS.' but around 1919 when Fairbanks died, they dropped his name from the stamp. Manufacture continued up to 1970, when the company was sold to the Martin Company and in 1972, it changed hands again to the Global Trading Company of South Korea. Deering Banjos purchased the name and are making modern versions of some of the Vega range.