First time on the market since 1978! John sold this early Tubaphone No. 3 to his good friend, James Atleson in one of his earlier banjo transactions. At the time John had two rare Fairbanks-Vega Tubaphones and customers for each in neighboring Buffalo. The other banjo was a much cleaner example with no modifications, and it went to collector Elias Kaufman. This banjo had geared tuners added, and at one time had an additional peg through the globe of the flower pot inlay. That was filled and the pink globe replaced. Now, Jim was not a collector at the time. He just wanted a great banjo to play and he chose this over the much cleaner banjo because it sounded great. Now all these years later, it is still one of the greatest sounding Tubaphones we have ever owned.