Interesting "mountain" banjo from Saluda, NC

[John Cohen]

Here's a banjo I recently added to my herd.  I'm not sure if it's particularly old or even if it belongs on this forum, but it's worth a shot.  It was sold to me as a mountain banjo, not that it really is one.  It has a long 23'' neck and a 12'' rim, and some funky early-style inlays.  Maybe the neck isn't original to the rim?  It may of had a skin head at one point too, but now it has a wooden soundboard with a sound hole.  The tailpiece seems homemade and has an inlay that matches those on the neck and the bottom of the heel.  The top hardware and hoop is in much better condition than that of the bottom, which is very rusty.  The head stock design is Buckbee-esque.  

[John Cohen]

One more image:

[John Cohen]

Turns out the banjo is from Saluda, NC.  Now that's a really interesting place if you've ever been.