Interesting banjo on auction tomorrow

[SWCooper]

There's an auction in Ireland tomorrow that's got a Riley-Baker patent zither banjo in it, guide price £252 - £288. That's the one with the all-aluminium pot and neck (the fingerboard is wood). Here are some good pictures of another example from somebody's blog: http://ning.it/jjyOmt

The auction thing is kind of interesting. You can sign up online, watch in realtime and bid. Unfortunately, you have to make arrangements for somebody to pick things up and ship them (and fast -- auction houses don't like things hanging around). Sadly, that ruins the economy of the thing right there.

 

Pity. I've seen a few really interesting banjos sell around the area. Here's the link to this one: http://ning.it/iKtsse

[David Wade]

Interesting, these were banjos built for Empire - I have two and usually have one of them with me on the Road Show. They are not made of aluminium, it's an alloy closure to gun metal (we've had it tested). This one looks to be in good condition - first to go is the tail piece cover!

http://www.zither-banjo.org/pages/rnb1.htm shows my first one before it's visit to Clive Hughes.

The estimated auction price is not a bad estimate - I've paid around £220 3/4 years ago.

[SWCooper]

Just sold for 220 Euros -- beneath the guide price a little. At today's exchange rate, that's £195.80.  Eh...oh, well.

[skip sail]

Excellent info,I know of one of these for sale,and Im trying to get a handle on how much to offer