This is a well worn but nicely playable late 19th century banjo, simple in design and construction but with a few nice touches. There are no maker or seller's markings; the design is a fairly universal pattern for the period. The most interesting feature is the squared-off slotted headstock fitted with guitar style tuners, which is repeated for the 5th string peg. This has a single guitar-style machine mounted on a sort of boxy extension of the neck which the string is fed through, a fairly unusual way to do it! The machines themselves are nicely made 1880s pattern brass guitar units with real bone buttons most likely imported from Germany.
The standard pattern spunover rim surrounded by what to the modern observer might seem an excess of brackets; there was a time when the retail price of the banjo was directly tied to the number of hooks employed! The inside of the rim is stained dark, the cherry wood neck is finished natural, and has some nice grain patterns. The very thin veneer ebony fingerboard has small metal dot inlay and is fretted to the 17th fret, with a plain expanse after. The tailpiece is a flat brass piece with a center cutout. This was not considered a professional grade instrument when built but today something like 130-140 years on is a lovely survivor, still a nice player with a sweet warm sound.
Overall length is 34 3/4 in. (88.3 cm.), 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm.) diameter head, and 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/16 in. (33 mm.).
This banjo has a decent amount of general wear overall, but considering its age remains still a fully playable instrument. Most of the hardware including tuners and tailpiece remain original with a few replaced shoes, hooks and nuts. The plating has general wear as does the finish on the neck. The dowel has been reset and there is an ancient crack to the treble side of the heel, solidly sealed but fully visible. One of the bone tuner buttons is a mismatched period replacement. The frets appear original and have some light wear as does the fingerboard. The banjo is set up with an older calfskin head and a later bridge. It plays well with nylon strings (this is NOT recommended as a steel-string instrument) and sounds very nice, a fully playable piece of history in a modern gig bag. Overall Very Good + Condition.
