I'm pretty sure Eric Sullivan of Sullivan Banjos could make a rim for your RB250. Since the rim's bead separation is not unusual on those banjos, he's probably done more than a few of them.

Your banjo, being a 1975 Gibson RB 250. has a two piece flange (tube & plate) setup, so you can't just buy any ol' banjo pot and throw it in there. 

Besides, you want to keep as many original Gibson parts as possible. Replacing the rim on these 1970's era 250's is fairly common, and won't hurt the value of the instrument.

Rockybottom gives good advice....get ahold of Eric @ Sullivan Banjos, he'll know exactly what to do.

https://sullivanbanjo.com/collections/tone-rings-pot-assemblies

As said above, I would contact Eric Sullivan.

Bobby

Go right ahead and spend your money, the economy will thank you.
Then again, you could also consider taking and posting a picture of the problem and get 147 second opinions.
Not impossible that there might be an easy fix...
Oh, and welcome to the Hangout.

I agree with contacting Eric Sullivan. He does great work. However, there are a few other makers who might be able to help you as well. Steve Huber, Warren Yates, Tim Davis, Hunter Lemon, Randall Wyatt, and Clancy Mullins are all members here who are banjo makers. You can contact any of them and see if they would turn a new rim for you. You would have to send your flange and tone ring to them to insure a proper fit.

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Originally posted by joeystonewalls

I have a 1975 Gibson RB250 and the the rim needs to be replaced. I guess it’s called the flange that is separating and keeps getting worse so I’ve disassembled it. 

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As others have suggested, Eric Sullivan is the go-to person for this. And extremely affordable. Just to know: Sullivan Banjo supplied necks, tone rings, hardware, and rim fitting for Gibson in the last two decades of Gibson banjo production.

A three-ply wood rim fitted to a tone ring and two-piece flange is only $215.

If you send him your tone ring and the tube portion of your flange, you'll get a perfect fit. I believe  however, tubes are fairly standard (while tone rings can vary).

You'll have to finish the rim yourself (meaning color and top coat). Or you can pay extra and have that done.

For clarification, what you're probably experiencing is delamination of the outermost bead of wood (part of the multi-ply "rim") that retains the tube portion of the two-piece flange. The "flange" is the metal assembly that surrounds the rim. It works together with the tension hoop (stretcher band) and the hooks and nuts to hold the pot together. The two-piece flange on the 70s-80s RB-250 was a throw-back to 1920s Mastertone flanges. but for decades before and after, Gibson used a cast one-piece zinc alloy (pot metal) flange, that most players prefer (even though the two-piece might be structurally superior).

Bart is probably right to suggest you consider a repair. I've read of people gluing the rim back together then helping it further with tiny brass wire brads. But I believe rim replacement is a better way to go. This failure is a known issue. All were not defective, but plenty were.  I would have thought that a '75 rim headed to failure would have failed and been repaired long ago. Learn something new every day. Gibson went back to 3-ply rim for this model by the end of its run. Not sure exactly when.

Good luck.

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Originally posted by Bart Veerman

. . . you could also consider taking and posting a picture of the problem and get 147 second opinions.
Not impossible that there might be an easy fix...

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Bead delamination is a known weakness of 70s RB-250 rims. I think the availability of an easy DIY fix -- regluing and clamping it -- depends on whether all the wood is still there.

Besides the fix I mentioned earlier, in which I believe someone described tacking the bead as well as gluing it, Ken LeVan wrote of cutting it off, routing a channel into the rim, gluing in a new single ply of maple, then turning that on a lathe to create a new tube-retaining bead. Not many people can do this at home. 

A new, fitted, 3-ply rim for $215 seems like a bargain compared to what someone would have to charge to repair the worst feature of the least respected banjo Gibson ever made.

Unfortunately, it loses the Mastertone sticker. Wonder how easy that might be to peel off.

Yeah I had tried to attach a picture of the rim but it may not have worked. Tim Davis recommended Sullivan too. I tried to call a number but no answer. Hopefully I can get in touch with him.

OP:

If you decide to send it to Eric Sullivan, you might consider having him fit it to one of the First Quality flathead rings as well. I believe this is the same ring that Gibson used in the RB-75 "Crowe" models. It's a great ring, and really not all that much money (compared to some others). Have him finish the rim and put in a "repllica" label, too...

The Sullivan SUL-1 Pre-War Style 20-Hole Flathead Tone Rng. $269.95.

I've sent a message to their number as the recording instructed so just waiting to speak to him. I'm sure he's a very busy guy as much as people recommend him. I'll update after things progress. For now just waiting. 
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Originally posted by Old Hickory

The Sullivan SUL-1 Pre-War Style 20-Hole Flathead Tone Rng. $269.95.

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eric made my 94 earl fantastic guy

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Originally posted by joeystonewalls

I've sent a message to their number as the recording instructed so just waiting to speak to him. I'm sure he's a very busy guy as much as people recommend him. I'll update after things progress. For now just waiting. 

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Yes. People have commented here about Eric's occasional unavailability. I want to assume there's no problem. He's done two different rim, ring and flange fittings/adjustments for me in the past 7 or 8 years (time flies), with great phone conversations about each. I think the business is now just he and his wife.

So I waited several days on Sullivan. He finally messaged stating he would call me the next day and never did. I understand busy but it’s not good business to say something and not follow through with it. Anyhow, I found a guy on eBay that is supposed to make one for me. Gotta send my tone ring and flange to him so hopefully it’s legit and goes well.

As long as his rim starts out with a large enough outside diameter to accommodate the retaining bead and he's experienced with 2-piece flange, you should be fine.

If it's the guy selling block rims fit to the customer's parts, he has good reviews.

Yes him.