In the old movies they used to kick guys when they were bent over, smelling flowers or something. A more innocent age?

Question: The neck I broke and the neck on the banjo I bought yesterday, and the neck on Charlie's Stewart, all have a wooden rod that extends through the pot. None of the ones I see on eBay or at other net sites have that; I assume one uses a steel rod of some sort with those. The wooden rod says something about the age of the neck doesn't it? Or are there necks with wooden rods available that I just haven't found yet?

I still agree with Snoopy: the world would be a much better place if all babies were issued banjos at birth.