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H.C. NELSEN (c.1890)
condition abbreviations VG-EC except needs work (install new head, reglue loose peghead veneer, reglue fingerboard on bass side, shim nut, dress and level frets, install new bridge, strings, setup, etc. - sold AS-IS), ~11-1/8" head, 7/16" black painted metal clad wood rim, 24 brackets, black painted neck, 17-fret ebony fingerboard with micro dot inlays, 1-11/32" nut width, ~25-1/2" scale length, replacement tailpiece, four replacement friction tuners with black plastic buttons, replacement chrome geared 5th string tuner, "TS" and "Theo Smith" written on nickel silver heel cap, likely made by J.B. Schall, a cool rare banjo, "MADE FOR WM BECKER CHICAGO" and "H.C. NELSEN MAKER CHICAGO" written on dowel stick, nice project. NOTE: Our friend and Chicago-area banjo expert Juel Ulven tells us that this Wm Becker is likely "the same William Becker that testified as an expert witness in the U.S. Supreme Court appearl where H.C. Dobson and C.E. Dobson sued E.J. Cubley for patent infringement with his all metal rim patent & construction. They had lost the civil case and the appeal was argued April 10-11, 1893, and the Supreme Court ruled that Cubley's patent for the rim design was not infringing on the Dobson patents. Probably one of the few times banjo decisions have gone to the Supreme Court. Becker was listed in the 1889 and 1890 Chicago Lakeside City Directory as a "Music & Musical Instrument" dealer." Price reduced
60U-2068 .. $400.00

heel
headstock-front
headstock-back
front
front-detail
fretboard
back
back-detail
body-front
body-back
from our Banjo Department
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