28. $300
Unknown early banjo, ca. 1840? A 32-inch mahogany
banjo with beveled front frames and delicate wooden side arms. I could not find a banjo with similar side arms in my banjo books,
but I bet you can. The wooden finial on top may be original. The dial glass is original, as is the throat glass, but I
think the box glass is an old replacement; it shows the battle of the USS Constitution against the HMS Guerriere off Nova Scotia in
1812. The Constitution won and the Guerriere was destroyed, a morale booster for the US, but with little impact on the War of
1812. Both glasses have well-preserved tablets. The iron dial holds the original paint and with considerable touch-up,
soiling, and flaking. It looks like it is original to this clock and is unsigned. The moon hands are period and likely
original. The 8-day brass movement is dirty and does not run well; I see no distinctive features. There is no weight with
this clock; the pendulum is typical, on a metal rod, and the tie-down on the weight shield is missing the clip. $300–$500.
Antique American Clocks january 2025