Hey, Ron.
I'll tell you what I know, which isn't much. George Houghton & Sons offered banjo ukes starting in the early 30's through the 40's. I think they stopped making them by the mid 1950's, but I'm not sure. GH&S offered two basic models of banjo uke during this time: The 8 1/4" pot model, which is often labeled as Melody, Melody Major, and Carnival, and less often as Handel and Triumph. Then they offered the 7 inch pot model - which I've seen labeled as the Melody Minor and Pageant.
The major and minor models are all nearly identical to others within the same model group - same headstock, same resonator, same tone ring assembly (only in the major model) and only three mop markers at 3, 7 & 12 - and this reflects the fact that they were being turned out for department and music stores. There is no gradation or qualitative differences between them, only some slight optional differences - for example, I've seen Melodys that had white celluloid binding on the rim of the resonator and high-grade clear polish on the laminate - walnut, I think - on the pot and resonator. I've also seen Melodys and Carnivals painted sunburst (sunsplash) on the resonator back and middle of the neck, with no binding. Then, I'd seen a Carnival with no decoration other than the headplate and mop fret markers that was stained black all over with the wood grain barely visible. I've only ever seen one Handel and two Triumps, both were very plain models, light brown stain over what appeared to be walnut with no decoration other than the nameplates. And check this out - a GH&S uke that had presumeably been built for and sold by a French music store that had Houghton emboss their name into the headstock - "Gallotone" - but as you can see, GH&S's "British Made" stamp and "Melody Uke" are also embossed
http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/15664192/VINTAGE_GALLOTONE_BANJOLINA_MELODY_UKE.html .
As to which music or department store offered the Carnival, I've no idea. They may know at the Duke of Uke in London, which usually offers a number of vintage banjo ukes, though just now, they appear to be out. The point is, the Carnival is exactly the same instrument as the Melody as the Handel, just a different nameplate.
I love these GH&S ukes. A friend owns a Carnival and Melody. As banjoleles go, they're really light, and they have surprisingly accurate freting for cheapies and have good tone. I have a file of auction records that has several GH&S models, including a few Carnivals, but don't have it at work. If you're interested in that, I can send later today.