Gibson RB-1 #9527-18, the "A.E. Rawlonsory"

This very interesting original five-string RB-1 comes from proud new owner David Bootes.  I'll let him tell the story:

"I have no idea how I came to find this banjo.  My searching lead me to the other side of the world just north of Sydney, Australia where I found this RB-1.  #9527-18 is an all original RB-1 in good condition.  This example is a rare original five-string that is especially unusual due to its non-standard peghead shape, sometimes referred to by collectors as the "Coke bottle" shape.  It also varies from standard style 1 by having the Mastertone label and the "Made in the U.S.A." sticker for exports. . .

This banjo was from the original owner who at eighty-plus years old wanted his banjos to go to a good person. He had owned it most of his life. He said everything is original to the banjo.  Before I had even finished the purchase of this banjo I had named it "Sydney".  The gentleman who had sold it to me thought that "Sydney" was a good Australian name as well.  When it arrived I opened the original case's accessories compartment and underneath the flap was a vintage train pass sticker.  In bold print it read "SYDNEY".  This was unknown to me.  I thought this was special since I had already had it named "Sydney".

I noticed On that old vintage train pass on the case his name is written in the old inkwell-and-pen calligraphy-style writing (A.E. Rawlonsory).  The way everything went down was fate and even the person who sold it to me said "It was fate, mate".  I feel very fortunate and proud to have an original five-string in my collection".

At least one other banjo from this lot, #9527-6, is also known to have a Mastertone label although its inlay pattern is the diamonds and squares pattern normally seen on style 3 banjos of the 1920s.

Photos courtesy of David Bootes.

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