Fairbanks and Cole Presentation Flush fret

This is an extraordinarily rare, one of a kind banjo from the Fairbanks and Cole company of Boston, Massachusetts before they separated into different companies. In 50 years, we have never seen banjo quite like this. It sports carved, ivory pegs with the initial "P" carved in relief (the fifth tuner is an older, non matching celluloid tuner, and patent stamped tailpiece. The banjo has original bone frets, with handsome saw cut pearl inlay. All of the appointments of this banjo indicate to be a high-grade instrument from this company; six later nuts and two later shoe. An early brass dowel stick repair is present beneath a long metal ferrule, which actually allows for exceptional neck angle adjustment; instrument is playing and sounding well. The banjo was owned by Mr. Akira Tsumura of Japan, but not featured in any of his books. 11.5" diameter, 27" scale length neck, 1-3/8" wide nut.