This started its life as a decent spunover-pot Supertone (by Wm. Lange for Sears) fretted 5-string banjo probably c.1910/1915 or so. Before I got it the fretboard had started to crumble, someone attacked the spunover shell (trying to shine it up??) with sandpaper, and did a generally wack job of trying to get this banjo into a player.
Since receiving it I've overhauled it with thorough cleaning, restoration of neck finish (a super thin topcoat to return some shine and better feeling), removal of the remains of the old fretboard, and installation of a nice cherry board without frets. I've also cut a "minstrel" style bridge out of holly and set this up as a nice 1870s-feeling fretless 'jo.
I decided to save the old headplate and leave it in place, though now it performs the role of nut as well as veneer. Those are the original celluloid violin-style pegs (yes, I like 'em too!).
And there's the 5th peg with screw-style pip. These are Aquila nylgut strings (this banjo was built super light for gut strings... steel would warp this neck like nothing else).
The cherry has some pretty figure here and there and feels really, really nice with quite pretty luminescence.
This skin head wasn't installed by me (it rides a hair low) but appears to have been installed at some point in the past (it's not original as heads from that time period tend to be thicker).
Holly bridge.
Detail.
I managed to recover some shine from the hardware and pot, but oh my when this came in... it was rust and tarnish heaven.
Pot detail. One interesting note is that the tension hoop appears to be a replacement (perhaps).
5th.
Back.
Neck appears to be a light reddish maple? Either way it feels nice and looks the part.
Back of pot.
Celluloid pegs.
Back of neck.
Overview.
Side detail.
Overview again...
Cherry love...
Headstock with headplate "nut" and celluloid pegs.
New no-knot tailpiece (the original tailpiece was wrecked).
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