"no-name" 1850's Minstrel Banjo  
  
     This is a reproduction of the minstrel banjo owned and played by Robert B. Winans on the Rounder Records  "Minstrel Banjo Style."  in 1994.      
     It has a 13.5 inch skin head with a scale length of about 30 inches.  The neck is carved from solid rosewood and the 3.25" deep rim is bent oak with rosewood veneer.  The hooks and brackets are brass with a steel tension hoop. 
     The inlays on the fingerboard mark noting positions.  The circle near the fifth string tuner marks the seventh position and the octave position is located at the point between the two bumps on the side of the neck.  The brass geared tuners with ivory buttons were found on an 1850's Ashborn banjo that was originally equipped with 1852 patented friction tuners.     

Price: $2400.