Bill Anderson Says:
Saturday, August 24, 2013 @8:27:08 AM

Jim,
Nice banjo. I consider David McLaughlin of Winchester, VA the most knowledgeable......so let's see what he says. He could possibly provide you with a written appraisal. I have seen several with these inlay motifs, but I have never seen a maple neck one. I think the inlay pattern and heel cap indicate circa late 1890s. What are the indications to you that the oak dowel stick is non-original? Congrats on a nice banjo, Bill Anderson

RovingMountaineer Says:
Saturday, August 24, 2013 @8:40:41 AM

Thanks Bill! I'm hoping David will chime in (pun intended).
The dowel stick is very plain, solid oak, and signed on the reverse side "J O'Malley East Orange New Jersey 1906". I just assumed it was a replacement. Maybe no?

Bill Anderson Says:
Saturday, August 24, 2013 @8:59:27 AM

Maybe not.....Some were plain.
The writing on the back side of the dowel could be that of a proud owner. For all I know the 1906 could date his purchase, the changing of the head, purpose of Identification, etc. I think they were made into the 20th century. Henry Clay Dobson 1832-1908.....Bill

RovingMountaineer Says:
Saturday, August 24, 2013 @9:09:57 AM

Right, very interesting Bill, yes that does make sense. I was just going by the other examples I saw online with fancy carved dowels and serial numbers. But right- why would someone male a new dowel for an instrument only a couple of years old? Thanks !
Jim

Bill Anderson Says:
Saturday, August 24, 2013 @9:10:26 AM

Small number stamped anywhere on the stick?

RovingMountaineer Says:
Saturday, August 24, 2013 @9:14:09 AM

No, and "TOP" scrawled before the signature (another reason I thought it might be replaced).

GerryH Says:
Saturday, August 24, 2013 @10:34:04 AM

Nice find. Most attractive!
GerryH

RovingMountaineer Says:
Saturday, August 24, 2013 @11:42:22 AM

Thanks Gerry!

David McLaughlin Says:
Saturday, September 14, 2013 @1:16:58 PM

Hey, James. Sorry to be late in getting on here. Your banjo appears to be a post-Buckbee example. In the late 1890s quite a number of necks were made of maple, cherry, mahogany, walnut, rosewood, oak, and other woods. If you email me a good number of high resolution closeup photos, I could tell you more about it. The inlays, heal cap, and peghead shape (all combined) point to very late 1890s. By this point, the Dobson stamp was often left off of the dowel stick, or sometimes stamped in with a stamp no larger than the size used to stamp the sides of the metal strike plate. There could also be a very small similar stamp in each side of the heal right under the side panels of the metal strike plate

RovingMountaineer Says:
Monday, September 16, 2013 @4:50:22 AM

Wow, thanks very much David. Great info.

Bill Anderson Says:
Monday, September 16, 2013 @5:49:00 AM

David, do you think the oak dowel stick is original?

David McLaughlin Says:
Sunday, September 22, 2013 @11:54:08 AM

It is very possible that the oak dowel stick is original. The joining of different woods for neck and dowel is not uncommon. But there are many reasons for replacing dowel sticks also. I would be able to tell if it's original upon close examination. The absence of a stamp in the dowel stick is very common in the late 1890s.