This is one of the most rare and spectacular examples of an all original English Tunbridgeware fretless seven string banjo. Uniquely, this example has geared tuners, not friction pegs like examples. It has a beautiful, almost mystical tone and is very playable and not a wall hanger like some examples. I’ve never seen an better example in my forty plus years of playing and collecting. These were made by a few firms in Tunbridgeware Wells in Kent, England where the local artisans specialized in producing a particular form of Treen ware made from 180 different colored woods, including, Holly, Cherry, Plum, Yew, Sycamore and many others. The technique was to bind short lengths together and glue them into bundles. The pot is 12”, Nut width is 1.75” Scale length is 23.5” Overall length is 35”. Original German brass machine heads that operate perfectly. They are very similar to Martin machine heads found on their guitars in the 1860s and 1870s. All of the inlays are intact and in excellent condition. All eight tensioner and shoes are German brass and original to the banjo. There is a small patch about the size of a dime on the back of the neck near the nut. Will ship in a secure chipboard case packed bullet proof.
