Looking for an A. C. Fairbanks banjo -- gold-plated thingys around the belly, built in the 1970s or '80s, with a provenance that places it in Houston, Texas at that time.

Figure a 'Catter might know this one, or know someone who knows...

Hally (my Mama) had this one. It was stolen. Don't want it back, just to know if it's being loved and played somewhere.

When she acquired it her paying jobs were -- um -- spotty?, iffy?
It didn't get insured. A friend helped her get another, fairly good, instrument. When she finally got enough work to get insurance this other banjo had been taken, too. Another friend saw a yukky banjo in a junkstore. Proprietor was an acquaintance, had been told it was not a fab instrument, so gave it to her. She had some repairs done, put good strings on it and insured it up the wazoo. Then she left it in the back seat of her car (instead of hiding it like she had the other 2). Noone would touch it! The thieves in Houston, she decided, knew quality and wouldn't fool with anything else!

All help and info gratefully accepted. Tw.