Pat'd Mansfield banjo I found last summer

[fred quann]

I found this odd ball banjo last summer in Maine.  It has a label Pt'd Mansfield banjo made by Whittmore and Whitten.  It is odd in the sense that the hoods come up thru the bottom of the rim.  There is a spun over piece which fit around the wood rim and hangs over the skin.

The effect is that you do not see any hooks and nuts.  A pretty neat design from the 1880's.

Thanks for viewing check out the photos.  I only know of one other banjo like this.

[Bart McNeil]

Very interesting banjo.  The stye of construction makes perfect sense as there are no hooks or anything metal sticking out of the hoop catching on clothes and irritatiing over long playing time.

What a nice find!