Gibson trap door pot assembly from circa 1918 No. 248 in excellent condition. ( was originally a banjolin ). All the hardware is original except for one hook nut that I replaced by a nut from another Gibson trapdoor. I made a rolled brass tone ring to replace the aluminum one that was in bad shape.
The wood rim is the hollow type that Gibson made for a few years only. It is a very elaborated construction and was probably too much work so they switch for the solid rims somewhere around 1921.
Note: The rim was designed by Victor Kraske, patented in 1902, as a 5-string! Kraske went to work for Gibson in 1910. Just how his rim design was transferred to Gibson is unknown.
More infos about it here: banjohangout.org/archive/216367
The trap door is fully fonctional the wood finish has some light surface scratches and finish wear.The nickel plating is in great shape even on the hooks and nuts.
New hand made curly hard maple 2 pieces neck with a thin blackwood center strip.
Adjustable 2 way truss rod accessible by the heel.
Fingerboard, back plate , head plate and heel cap in black Ebony.
Perloid bindings to match the one on the original trap door.
Mother of pearl hand cut inlays.
Neck Scale is 21 3/8 inches, frets are nickel silver. Width at the nut is 1 3/8 inch to give more room for the fingers on a short scale. Width at the heel is 1 15/16 inch.
Gotoh tuners.
Original armrest.
Moon bridge. Bone nuts.
Calfskin head mounted on a square brass flesh hoop.
Tunes in the key of B it delivers a Sweet Old time sound with clear highs and a good note separation.
Neck was made and banjo put together in February 2016 . Plated Second Life banjo No.1245-4
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