Froma search on google, it looks like you've got a pretty rare banjo there. Here's a little more info:

From This site:

The Merlin Mfg. Corp of Chicago, Il was formed in 1962/3 by Leonard
McCabe, Jay Smith and Bill Malloy. Merlin was to be a blend of modern
and traditional design. The instruments were made of aluminum and
fiberglass. The fretboard was ebony and the resonator was spun brass.
The neck was highly polsihed cast aluminum. The hoop or rim was
fiberglass. In 1965 the company stopped production after selling less
than 100 banjos.
Curtis McPeake

And, from a "capo mmuseum site, which also mentions McPeake: Capo shown on a Merlin scroll down to the "Small Cramp" title