Jas. Morrison (unmarked) 5-string banjo, Circa 1880's
James Morrison of New York sold "patented steel hoop" banjos starting in the 1870's and they continued to be sold until 1912. Morrison's patent, issued in 1882, was for a banjo with a steel hoop suspended on posts driven into the rim, but this banjo has the steel hoop simply resting on the rim. It is widely believed that his banjos were actually made by Buckbee. This is a high quality banjo, with quality hardware and very nice pearl inlay work. Note the nice pearl inlayed tailpiece.
