George Washburn (unmarked) 5-string banjo Circa 1892

This early Washburn banjo, from Lyon & Healy's first catalogued banjo offerings, is similar in construction to the Lyon & Healy Professional line offered at the same time.  One way of distinguishing between the Washburn banjos and the L&H Professional banjos was in the rim hardware.  Only the Washburn banjos had the globe-shaped "Imperial" brackets.  This lovely example has a beautifully engraved rim, a 1/4" thick ebony fingerboard and headstock overlay, and a heavy, thick German Silver covered wood rim.  These banjos, along with the L&H Professional banjos, were much more substantial in their construction than were other banjos from the same period.

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