Antique Banjo
This is an antique banjo that measures 22" long x 10" wide x 3.5" deep. It has "The Gibson" at the top and has 4 strings. It appears to be made of both wood and metal and perhaps ivory on the knobs that tune. The banjo appears to be in very good condition, the case does not.
I inherited this from a friend of mine who inherited it from a friend of hers in approx 1990 who died at the age of 104 and she performed in Vaudeville in her youth.
Inherited
Yes
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry. Based on the photographs and description provided, the subject of this appraisal is a 15-fret Gibson Tenor Banjo (TB) - specifically believed to be a TB-1 model - with a closed back from the early 1920s. According to the current owner, the piece was acquired via inheritance. The piece's serial number is unknown.
The piece includes what is believed to be its original case and seems to be in good original condition from photographs examined. The exact model is unknown (although strongly believed to be a TB-1), but based on the style of the Gibson label and its application on the headstock, the snakehead headstock shape, the 1-piece diamond flange, the dot inlays, and lack of embellishments found on higher-end Gibson models of the era, the piece is from one of Gibson's more budget-conscious model lines.
Based on prices achieved in online auction settings and market prices for similar banjos, in consideration of the factors noted, a Fair Market Value (pre-auction estimate) of this piece would be estimated at $500 to $750.
