The neck dowel is held in place at two points as it passes through the rim. On the tailpiece end the end pin holds it in place, on the neck end, the neck brace holds it in place. In this photograph we see the three pieces of the neck brace. The metal rod passes through a hole in the dowel and fits in the two small indentations in the bracket in this photo. The screw in the bracket is used to exert pressure on the rim and helps hold the neck in place. The third piece fits around the dowel and is the piece between the wooden rim and the bracket piece. This banjo is thought to be a 1930s era Slingerland. The Slingerland Musical Instrument Mfg. Co. was based in Chicago, Illinois and was owned and operated by H.H. Slingerland. The company changed names several times, including The Slingerland Banjo Company, Slingerland Banjo and Drum Company and others.