I don’t play the Banjo. But I do own this one. It used to belong to my grandfather, but I don’t think he played it either. All I know about this instrument is that it’s old, and not very well made. I put it back together a few years ago, just for the fun of it. The book in the background is “How to play the plectrum 'G' Banjo” by Lew Stern, who I’ve never heard of, but with a copyright date of 1928 it’s not really surprising. (That’s 10 years before Robert Johnson was recording!!) For all I know the banjo is just as old. And now you’re all going to have “Camptown Races” stuck in your head for the rest of the day.

(Doo-dah! Doo-dah!)

UPDATE from my Mum: 'I think it belonged at one time to Grandad's father, or to Grandad's uncle, anyway as you say, it is pretty old. I remember you (a very young you) and I trying to play nursery rhymes on it - we always ended up with very sore fingers from the metal strings!'

A year ago today: My PotD for 19th Jan 2003