Washburn “Aristocrat Special” tenor banjo model 5183, S/N 13992,Circa 1928

Lyon & Healy continued to market banjos under their own name and under the highest grade "Washburn" name until the early 1930's.  This model was one of their higher grade tenor banjos at the time.  It features the "doughnut" tone ring introduced on Washburn instruments in 1923, and the famous "troubadour" peghead inlay also seen on some other high-grade banjos of the period.  The "Aristocrat Special" was a gold plated "Aristocrat" model. Note the very nice inlaid wood marquetry on sides of the resonator and the inlaid wood pastoral scene on the back of the resonator.

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