This is rare 1920's banjo built by Albert Houdlett & Sons in Brooklyn, NY for C. Bruno & Sons. Bruno was a New York musical instrument "jobber".
Neck - the neck is maple with a 3-piece center strip, ebony fingerboard with 7 mother of pearl inlays, "pearwood" peghead veneer with ornate mother of pearl inlays, the heel is carved, multi-colored purfling under the fingerboard
Rim - the rim is maple with a non-original tone ring system which is a rolled brass ring set on screws on top of a maple ledge. The resonator is maple with multiple purflings, unique "star" flange
Setup - this is setup in GDAE of Irish trad playing
Case - vintage, possibly original case included
Notes - this banjo appears to be all original with the exception of the modified tone ring. The frets have been leveled and dressed, very low action with no buzzing. The head is a custom painted Remo Renassiance head. There is a little piece of pearl missing on the side of the "Royal Artist" inlay. The resonator appears to have been refinished.
Specs:
- Scale length - 23-1/4"
- Nut width - 1.12"
- # of frets - 19
- Weight - 8 lb, 6 oz
- Action height - .070" @ 12th fret
- Strings - 12, 18w, 26w, 36w
- Bridge - maple/ebony, 3 leg
- Head - custom painted Remo Renassiance
- Serial number - n/a