What is this instrument?

[Lester Ballard]

Hi all,

I'm just wondering whether anyone can help me to discern what this instrument is please? It's 8 stringed (4 doubles). My dad has found it in his childhood home loft. It's probably a fair old age as his dad, if he was alive, would have been over 100, and he suspects it was his.

[Jason Rodgers]

Banjo-lin?

[Mark Swanson]

Yes, banjo mandolin. Popular in the 20's and 30's...

[Lester Ballard]

Thanks chaps. I guess it's a fair old age then. I want to refurb it, it needs a new tuning peg and skin... But I don't want to ruin its charm. It's unplayable at the moment, so I'm going to have to fix it really.
My thanks got the info.

[Michael Lewis]

The pot construction looks like some of the English banjos from a good while back. 30s or before I would guess.

Someone had no idea of how to attach strings properly.