131.             $400

John Polsey, Boston, “No. 5 banjo”, 1859-1865. A 29-inch production banjo that retains rosewood graining on the bezels and has three old/original glasses.  Polsey was likely trained by Aaron Willard, Jr. and was a contemporary of E Howard and D Davis; he was a superintendent at Howard & Davis, and later in a partnership with Davis.  The dial glass has the original putty, the tablet has been rebacked.  The dial was repainted by The Dial House with Polsey’s signature, the hands are proper.  The signed, pinned movement is running well with a weight stamped ‘V’.  Everything here looks original, except as noted.  $400-$800.