Official Luthiers Forum!

I picked up a vintage "Rettberg & Lange" "Manhattan" model banjo today at a garage sale. I paid $80 for it and according to Elderly Instruments it might be worth about $1,200 when restored. It was built circa 1915 and is in pretty decent shape considering it's spent the last 50 or so years in an attic. I want to restore it (what am I getting myself into? ) and one of the hooks and matching nuts are missing. Ideally, I'd like to use one that matches the others. The modern hooks I've found look quite different.

Can anyone recommend where I might find one?



Thanks,

- Ric

_________________
Ric Hollander
Kings Park, NY
http://www.hollanderguitars.com

Ric:

If nobody knows where you could find one easily you might try a small machine shop. They could probably knock one of these out reasonably quick!

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

RIck, I have a banjo builder friend, I'll ask him. Might take a couple days to get back to you.
PM me tonight (Wed 6/4), I'll see his son tonight....

Ric, wow, nice 'eye on a classic banjo there. I'm no vintage banjo expert, but that hook doesn't look too rare. It may be worth a shot to contact Tim Smith through his website http://savethebanjos.com/ or possibly Bob Smakula http://www.smakula.com

If they don't have the part I bet they could shoot you in the right direction. Or sheesh forget that old thing and send it my direction (postage pre-paid of course). PM me and I'll send my shipping address.

These are all great suggestions. You may also want to take a look back where you started at Elderly's web site. They sell a lot of "as is" instruments which can be very useful for parts if nothing else. They might have something with those style hooks. An ebay search for "project banjo" might turn up a match too. Good luck and nice find!

Thanks for the info everyone. I was able to find the missing hook at Bernunzio Vintage Instruments: http://www.bernunzio.com/

They were very helpful and provided lots of tips on how to approach the restoration.

- Ric

_________________
Ric Hollander
Kings Park, NY
http://www.hollanderguitars.com