Sold by Sears & Roebuck in the 20s, these are not 19th century as so many like to claim (I suppose that is wishful thinking). The presumption is that they were made by Lange. These were "Trade" banjos, and are what they are- intended as inexpensive banjos.

I'll describe as best as I can. Looks to be maple, neck and rim liner. Rim is clad in such a way that it looks like it continues to the top of the rim, it does not. The 5th peg had one of those hideous chrome Grover friction pegs screwed into the hole where they had filled it with wood putty (this was a victim of a guitar hack at a chain of music stores around here called "Brook Mays Music" before I got it) . I pulled it and stuck one of better pattern from Elderly in it, it has held just fine with nylon strings.

It has one of those Grover Patent sheet metal tailpieces that has a nasty habit of snapping nylon strings. One of those cheap no-knots would be better. The pearwood paper thin fingerboard veneer looks OK, though would not survive a re-fret. The frets look decent with the standard wear, they work ok with nylon strings. Fricton pegs. Rogers head.

And the best part, 30, count 'em, 30 hooks and brackets.

Checking on the neck, wear on finish from playing, tarnish rim- some spots pretty bad, is what it is.

Right now I've just got fishing line on it for all five strings. If I were to play it often, I would have a wound fourth on it, that will not be included. I've not had steel wire on it. Even thought it would have likely had wire when it was bought, the construction is not for it, and it won't stand it for long.

Hey, not a great banjo, but good for having around to quickly grab.

Action is 3/16" above the 12th fret with the 7/16" bridge. These would have had a 1/2" bridge new, but wire strings have necessitated sanding the bridge down. The neck has a very slight relief, but shockingly, it is almost flat.

No case, no insurance. If the post breaks it, send it back for a refund, minus my postage cost and I'll keep the hooks and tuners for spares and make a tambourine out of the rim.

From 1927 SR&C...

"Has 10 5/8" nickel plated wood lined shell with lower edge spun over wire. Maple neck. Nickel plated beveled straining hoop. Thirty hexagon brackets. Ebony finish pegs. Imitation ebony veneered head with inlaid pearl star. Maple neck (that's right, they wrote that twice). Calf skin head. Patented nickel plated tailpiece. Instruction book and cord chart included. A real instrument and big value."

This one has mechanical friction and not the fake ebony pegs. I do not have the instruction book and chord chart that would have come with it. But... you may go to my website and download for free all sorts of instruction materials, banjo sheet music, period articles and other fun stuff to go with it.


But that's not all! Act now and I include one of my Hooks' Banjo Thimbles as a bonus!