1915 Bruno Openback Tenor Banjo — Vintage Repair Project, Most Original Parts

Over 100-year-old Bruno tenor in fair condition — broken headstock, playable but needs full repair. A rare restore candidate. Open to offers.

This is a 1915 Bruno openback tenor banjo, likely made by Lange for Bruno, with design and ornamentation consistent with other Bruno models from the early 20th century. The fretboard features decorative inlays and the inside of the pot appears to have a secondary metal-clad skin (double-spun rim).

Condition & Issues:

• Fair / repair needed.
• Broken headstock — requires skilled repair or replacement.
• Plays, but not reliably — best seen as a restoration project.
• Most original hardware and fittings appear present / period correct.
• The rim’s spunover brass plating shows wear but in good condition.
• Some wear or damage around nut / fretboard edges (common in instruments of this age).

What’s Good / What Remains

• The neck (maple) appears straight with reinforcement braces intact.
• Tailpiece is a classic Elite tailpiece (period)
• Many of the pot hardware parts (tension hooks, flange, etc.) are original or from the same era.
• The decorative inlays are mostly intact; I especially like the Bruno logo in mother-of-pearl / shell with “rainbow” color accents.

Potential & Use

This is not a playing instrument in its current state (or at best, marginal). It’s ideal for someone with luthiery skills or for a collector willing to invest in a full restoration. Once restored, it could be a striking vintage tenor or display piece with strong heritage appeal.

Notes / Modifications

• I have not done any repairs, as you can see from the pictures. Still with it's dust on.
• I cannot vouch for head tension, full set-up, or long-term stability in its current form.
• Buyer should plan on a full re-head, structural repair of headstock, and setup + fretwork.

Price & Negotiation

I’m open to offers. I’m more interested in finding this banjo a good home than maximizing profit. Send me a serious offer and we can talk. I put the price high to avoid getting a lot of unwanted messages.