Brief description of the new toy is:

4-strings, open back (no resonator), woodwork is all "blond," minimal inlay work.

About 21 inch string length (bridge to nut) although I haven't checked the bridge position and it seems to be a little off. I'm guessing about 20 5/8 inches would put it in better tune.

17 frets. Fingerboard stops at the head ring – no extension.

Neck appears to be very straight, although one or two frets are lifted under the top string (15th and maybe 16th frets).

Head may not be evenly tensioned, but appears to be in good shape. About 10.75 inches (inside diameter of the ring). 20 Clamps. The head looks like hide(?) but I haven't had a chance to look too closely.

Ungeared friction tuners, seem to want to slip but are probably adjustable/fixable? I haven't brought it "up to tune" so they may be about right once there's more string tension.

Strings are "in place" but that's about the only compliment I can give them. Replacement due. I don't get good intonation with a G-D-A-E "Irish" tuning, but they seem to be about right at C-G-D-A. (Suspicion is that the low string is a "salvage" from an electric guitar.)

All the joints seem tight, and no scars except a smallish chip/scratch at the top of the peghead.

Original(?) case is/was "cardboard," and came in 4 or 5 pieces, with some gaps if you try to fit them together. Even duct tape probably won't make this one usable.

Bridge appears to be new, "in the white" single piece with no inserts. Possibly not original, although I can't find a current luthier that sells one without inserts – with the exception of a couple of "$40-magic" ones made all of exotic woods. This is $2 one.

I haven't determined what's very slight corrosion and what's just dirt on the rest of the hardware, but there's little of either.

No sign of wear on the wood finish, so the instrument has had very little use.

The only markings are on the back of the peghead: "T B Co, Sterling, Trade Mark" in a sort of "heart shaped" outline with a "lady's head" at the top. The tailpiece (adjustable) is marked "Grover Patent Presto." (Presto in flowery script.)

Obviously a Tenor Banjo, but that's about the limit of the findings from the "physical inspection."

John