It is what is called a "zither" banjo. It has an unusually short scale for a 4 string banjo. A very rough guess is that it was made in the 1910's.
I believe that many of these were of European origin.
If you post it on Banjohangout, you will get some more educated opinions on the date and maker.
Cafe member NickR posted this interesting information regarding the history of the zither banjo a while back. Follow the links in the message.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Almost all the English zither banjos I've seen have had slotted headstocks. Not saying this isn't one; the pot/resonator assembly surely looks like that of a zither banjo. The inlay pattern is totally unfamiliar to me, and the scale is definitely shorter than would be expected. Bit of an "odd duck..."
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
Here is the home page for that zither banjo site: http://zither-banjo.org.uk/pages/home.htm
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