1890s Cole's Eclipse Openback 5-String Banjo

This is a local customer's banjo. He'd requested to "get it up to snuff" and that included fitting a set of geared pegs at the headstock, filling some inlays, a level/dress of the frets, fitting a decent bridge, restring with Aquila Nylguts (instead of steel), a No-Knot tailpiece install, and setup work.

It's now playing like a champ and has a very typical "classic" banjo tone -- direct and snappy with good punch. Interesting design features include a pointy "boat" heel shape, neck-angle adjuster gizmo at the tailpiece side of the dowel stick, and a rim with "Little Wonder"-style tonering design over unwrapped wood which is a little less common for a period where spunover rims were normal.