139544 and 139545 were made in 1963 according to Banjophiles. This one is most likely from the same batch.

Also, there is no Mastertone sticker/label on the inside of the rim.

Thanks Colloden, that really helps! Ed thought it was from the late 40's. Do you have any idea of a ballpark worth?

i agree, 1963 RB-250. These sell for $3000, plus or minus $500. They didnt always have a mastertone decal in that era either, but also they had a thin rim and people replaced them. I dont think a replacement rim or a missing original stick would effect value too much. 

Thanks Kyle, I will let my neighbor Ed know, he will be happy to know that it is worth something. I really do appreciate the help and info that we can get here.

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Originally posted by JHook

Thanks Colloden, that really helps! Ed thought it was from the late 40's. Do you have any idea of a ballpark worth?

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Gibson reintroduced the flathead in 1958 (it was listed in the '57 catalog) with the style 250. So if it's an original flathead, it couldn't be from the 40s. 

The fatter brown rim banjos will bring more than thinner rim with inner tone ring skirt floating in air with no bearing ledge. First thing I’d do is remove resonator thumbscrews and see if tone ring inner ledge is seated or hanging out beyond the wooden rim into thin air.

"Thin rim" is 7/16" thick at the bottom. Hangover of inner bottom of tone ring is obvious to Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder. This rim is usually stained/painted dead black.

"Regular rim" is 9/16" thick at bottom. Inner bottom of tone ring is flush/smooth to inner face of rim.  Stained a pleasant dark brown but you can still see the wood grain.

"Thin rim" made its appearance in 1964-65. 1963 would have brown regular rim.

The "thin rim" was another piece of genius by Gibson cutting costs. They looked for alternative rim benders and ask for a bid from their AMPLIFIER suppliers (amps used bent wood bodies). Their amp supplier said "Sure! But our wood bending equipment can only bend 7/16" not 9/16"." Gibson blithely said "Sure! You got the job!"

Sorry for the delayed response, got busy today. You guys are all great as usual! The rim is 9/16 and dark brown and the ring is not hanging over the rim, very slightly set inside the rim, but I can feel it. With the factory number of 1395-49 it looks to be an original 1963 RB 250.

I have read that 1963 was the transition year from 3 ply to thinner rims and both were built that year. It sounds that you have the better rim.

If that banjo is in good clean shape you might find a buyer at $4000. Those banjos are not as plentiful as 4 hole arch tops and thin rim flatheads. They are "prized".

Thanks Dick and Bobby, I will let him know that. I'm sure he will be happy to hear that it is the more desirable ones from that year and more valuable. I cleaned it up and put on new strings and it sounds great!