The hooks and nuts in conjunction with the flange and tension band create and adjust tension on the head. These nuts are nickel plated and the plating is flaking off on several of the nuts on this particular banjo. I believe this to be purely cosmetic and not affecting the stability or sound in any way. Recording King is a brand of instrument currently owned by The Music Link Corporation and is located in Hayward California. The brand was originally a house brand of instruments made for the Montgomery Ward company.