Initial pics 1-10

Richelieu tailpiece
All other hardware on rim original
 
 

Flange is loose fitting no broken lugs
Grover bridge
5 star head, pulled to near max
 

Grover 2:1 tuners and ivoroid buttons
 

Older refinish on resonator
 

Peghead original, overcoated with shellac at some juncture
 
 

Had a mute in its life
Nice thick rim

Matching numbers

Once owned by Horis Ward, a well known banjo collector

I have scuffed the finish and will add a couple of coats and see how it looks.
 

Hardware polished, frets leveled, neck polished and waxed
 

Rim finish completed, fretwork complete

The shoe bolts are almost too short for this rim.
This is one of the last of the Bacon pieces before Gretsch started full production and these rims are a tad thicker and the bolts barely catch the shoes.
I changed out 4 that just wouldn't catch a thread, they were hanging on air.

Tone ring has a poor fit, lets investigate.
You can see the tiny gap.....
 

..... thats not on the inside
The inside land was not turned out far enough and this is causing the outside to ride high.
Not odd for this type of flaw on this year range.
 

Also, on my flat steel table the light you see under the rim is showing you alot of warp.
I will try to knock a tad off the top of the rim to make the tone ring not bow up as bad.
 
 
 

This is a vintage AMRAWCO White Calf head.
It has a Lyon Healy brand as well.
Top of the line calfskin of the day.
I will clean that right off.
 

Much better and a good feel and tone at tension
 
 

George opted to add a mute and that is going on now

Good actuation
 

I have also added an Oettinger reproduction in place of the Richelieu, it just fits the banjo better and completes the new look, especially with the addition of the factory Bacon bridge.

TJ was in town, so I had him wring it out
Its got a nice sound on the skin, very Perry Bechtel like
Now to finish the back
 

Resonator completed

She plays well, and has a big skin head tone
And its surely more Baconesque than before!
Thanks for watching
Vinnie