An extraordinary piece of banjo history, this instrument is believed to be the first Montana banjo produced for the Cowboy Banjoist who dressed in white and endorsed the Bacon and Day line. It has some very special features that give evidence to this assumption. Montana was a plectrum style player. This banjo is constructed as a five string but was never set up with a fifth string nut. The tension hoop has a built in tailpiece consisting of four studs; setup with original calfskin Bacon stamped head. The banjo is open back construction and we believe it to be the very same instrument that he is pictured with on the cover of the May, 1925 issue of Frets magazine. Montana made the claim in the 1927 B & D catalogue that he can get a greater variety of effects and different tones out of a Bacon without a resonator, mute, or attachments of any kind...The banjo features the classic white holly neck and ivoroid covered fingerboard and rim but the tonering is completely different from that of the standard Silver Bell. The tonering is the same dimensions as the Vega Tubaphone tonering which David Day patented while at the Vega Company. However, this ring is solid (no holes drilled) and has the weight of a Gibson flathead ring. The peghead shape is similar to the later Silver Bells making this banjo the prototype for that design also. The peghead is covered in white rhinestones and equipped with pearl button planet tuners. The instrument shows the playing wear of a professional and came from a lady from Florida who claimed she got it from a cowboy named Montana. The banjo is set up for classic playing but could also be a great instrument with metal strings. Serious offers considered, including trades.