Vintage 1888 Fairbanks & Cole open back 5 string banjo Nice inlays, boat heel

Description

Out of an old long closed  luthier shop in western Ma.  Today we have a Fairbanks and Cole of Boston vintage open back frailing banjo  SN: 8645 is stamped inside  the rim up by the neck.  Making this we believe to be made in 1888 . With an 11 inch fyberskin head and a boat heel   .  This one is currently strung with nylgut strings I managed to tune it  up and it holds.  ( they're back  loose now)    and other than that NO visible damage. The 24 shoes hooks and nuts all seem to match.  The ebony ?  fretboard is in very  nice condition. With  cool inlays but in very different positions than a modern neck.   4 celluloid  friction tuners match.  There is evidence of different tuners once  having been on it , but the tuner  holes have not been enlarged,  ,I  also think the 5th tuner  may have been changed.  The bridge is a no tip one , and I'm pretty sure the Elite 5 string  tailpiece is newer too.  The tag on this one read 1890's , but I have no way to validate this.  This antique banjo  is being sold as is . At a minimum it will probably need the strings replaced, and a set up.  Please look long and hard at the pics and ask any and all questions. I'm not any kind of vintage banjo expert and I'm going by old tags not written by me. This is sold AS IS / AS found  No returns. I will ship this in a brand new Stadium  open back banjo gig bag. Well padded and insured in a good box. Sorry NO international shipping on this one. Due to materials.
Please check out my other sales of vintage guitar, banjo, and mandolin parts as well as ephemera and even some whole
vintage instruments. THX A