Pull straight up on the cover, and it will slide off the tailpiece. It may be stuck on there pretty tightly, due to corrosion. Usually, there's a screw sticking out of that hole in the center of the bottom of the TP, which goes through some sort of bracket which is attached to the rim (and dowel stick?) through the hole in the rim. It's possible yours has been screwed (or otherwise fastened) to the tension hoop. It could also be (BARELY) held in place by string tension-- in which case you'll yank it off along with the cover, and will need to figure out a way of mounting it more securely. Best to make sure the strings are floppy loose before messing with it.

Search YouTube for DIY nickel plating. All you need is a couple of pieces of pure nickel, some white vinegar, a little salt, and a low-voltage DC power source. Takes a few steps, but it's easy, isn't particularly messy or hazardous, and it works.

Thanks! I'll try just pulling it up.

I may try the plating. Should be pretty fun.

Dan's advice is spot on for the removal of the tailpiece cover. And his home plating technique for the nickel plating is intriguing.

I do want to add a couple of things to the post.

I recommend in the future you post the pictures directly to this forum. Though they are on your media page, making them easily accessible on this page will get you more replies. Even if you only needed one.

When you (and only you) view this page, you can scroll down to an attachments box that has your media photos. click on each one and they will appear in "your attachments" box. Then click post reply.

Very simple and much more convenient for us that have sucky internet connections.

Another detail I thought you might like to know is from one of the pictures on your media page I can tell that your banjo is not a Philadelphia made S.S. Stewart. After S.S. Stewart died, the Stewart trade name change hands several times. By the time your banjo was made it was owned by Buegeleisen & Jacobson, a prominent musical instrument distributor. I recognize the banjo's tonering and the decorative rim marquetry as being used by Gaetano Puntolillo. His personal brand name was Majestic. A biography of Puntolillo can be found here. Puntolillo made many banjos for B&J with the Stewart trade name. I have also seen banjos made by Slingerland and Gibson branded Stewart.


Bob Smakula
smakulafrettedinstruments.com

Thanks for the info, Bob. I am attempting the electroplate, will see!

Yes, it is a Puntolillo patent. I got the idea it was sold by Stewart from this one on Elderly: elderly.com/products/s-s-stewa...o8_Acf4Pz

I also found this one sold by Lange: jakewildwood.blogspot.com/2022...-rim.html

The marquetry is very nice, and the pot etc are in good condition. The neck is a cheap replacement, so I'm making a new 5-string neck for it. Again, this is my first try, so we'll see!

Vega and others screwed this 'piece directly to the stretcher on mandolin and ukulele banjos—the bottom of the tailpiece is cut off.

It's a standard Waverly tailpiece. The attached pictures show the same tailpiece uncut and folded to accept a hanger.

Unfolded, this was used on Gibson, Martin, Kay, Harmony and many others mandolins.