The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-21
THE TINKLIHo BANJO.
An Ancient Egyptian Invention Beceuins an
American Favortte.

American Favorite.
when negro minstrel entertainments took
the amusement world by storm q quarter OF q
century ago. that part OF II which could DO taken
TO the frcsldo was the banjo and the quaint
negro melodies Of stephen q. Foster. Tho
mental picture OF recreation on a Southern
plantation was q dozen slaves dancing to tho
lump. tump-a-tump" Of grinninR old negro.
keeping time with feet like hams.
1t was u simply made instrument that he
played on. but it's invention was not due to tho
negro. although IL has been adopted by him to
give vent TO hls exuberant sense Of fun. Yet II
II be true that tho ancient Egyptians were an
ccstors OF the modern negro then tho negro
may claim tho invention for his race. for J. q.
Wilkinson in his work on the ancient Egyptians.
shows picture of the Egyptian Tyre that. in
every vital respect. is n modern banjo. IL has
an oblong hoop. a neck'and head with pegs and
strings running from the head across the skin.
stretched over tho hoop. There were no places
for stopping the four strings. and hence only
four notes could DO made. But the Egyptians
are said by the best authorities to have been not
descendants OF Ham. but Of Shom. and therefore
Tho only banjo made In the old minstrel days.
when they first sprang into public recognition
M possessing beauties Of it's own not capable OF
being eQualled. was the tack head banjo.
The calfskin head was wet and stretched over
the rim as tightly as possible, and then tackled
down around the edge. But In damp weather
the skin would absorb moisture and become
fabby. making the tone fiat and lifeless. James
Buckley, father OF tho once famous Buckley
brothers. used 10 say that his Improvement the
frat important one made on the instrument
was suggested by seeing performer. when be-
hind the scenes in minstrel show, prepare the
banjo for the stage performance by setting IRE
near the flame. Tho dampness In the air re-
laxed the skin. and the head dried and drew il
Buckley tightly fitted narrow iron ring over
the outside Of the SIX at the top ot the hoop, SO
would tighten the skin on top, Brackets were
| fixed to the side Of the hoop in the middle OF the
outside and pierced for screws, which ran up
| ward into the iron ring. A key worked tho
scrcws. and pulled the iron ring that stretched
the hide to the desired tension.
| Another oven more important invention was
| applied by Joe Sween y who added the short.
| fine catgut string beside the wire string. max
| ing the banjo five -strngcd instrument.
| Until 1853 there were no banjo manufacturers
| IN New York following that line exclusively
Now there are FIVE firms In Williamshurgh. ono
start in making only banjos was Hairless, n Ger
man. who. in 1858. had little shop in Wooster
the only kind then in existence. for 81 each to
| retail dealers. who sold to purchasers Tor from
So 10 s.. Hairless and his family. with one or
| two men. worked night and day. and in ten
years took back to Germany $4,000,
| Bucklcy's invention at once divided banlos
| into two classes, The improved lnstruments
were bought by all professional performers and
| 10y amateur players whereas the old tack head
mass Of buyers. Butthe Buckley imp oyement
was partially failure. Although the tone was
more brilliant and il was available in all wealth
| ers. yet the metal brackets tore the clothes or
| punched the sides and arms OF performers. Ii
occurred to Henry c. Dobson To make one hoop
| for the caliskin, and TO suspend i inside Of a
second hoop with closed back. The sound in
the old banjo was To 10 out behind tho calfskin
and tho open wooden hoop. In blossoms i'm
! provcmcnt it was To- strike on the closed back of
! the hoop. and to rebound 10 the front through
the space between the two hoops. The inner
| hoop was held In position by metal brace y
screwed to the outer Hoop Both hoops were Of
wood. The inner one is now made OF metal.
| because il is impossible To split II. and the tOno
has been found to be shnrper sweeter ana more
| powerful than before. The Centennial Commits
sion gave Mr.. Dobson medal for his inven-
Four city firms send banios TO all parts Of the
Union They are Martin Pullmnnn Co,
Son. II is estimated that 5000 banIOs are man.
| ufacturcd here annually and sent away, OF
tack heads that are retailrd in the Suites for
! from 81 20 az, according 10 their quality and
the dlslance they are carriei;;o lhS patented
number Of the old-fashoncd unpatcntcl instru-
ments now made come from Buckbce's manu-
but not entirely on banJos. He makes drums
also. Altogether. the Williamsburgh and other
| firms make about one-tenth Of the number Of
Instruments that Buckbee turns out.
| The city dealers sell them In every state in
tho Union. but the South takes. in numbers.
two-thirls Of all that are made here The States
| that absorb most are Virginia, Georgia and
| Texas. They are largely 81 the poorer grade.
and are bought by negroes. Probably the State
| where according TO population. the largest
| number is sold in Georgia.
| The instrument is a iavori,e one with many
| prominent musicians. some Of whom are OK
| pert performers, Among them are Clara Louise
! Kellogg. Nine. Ko2naud- Nilsson, and the pianist
| Wchl. II was loved hy the late Colts chalk and
| among actors, i. l.. Davenport. Lydia ThQmp-
| son. Lolita. May SHville, Joe Emmett. Billy
| Birch. Wambold. the late Nelse Seymour Bobby
| Ncwcomb, and Tony Pastor. member OF the
Harper family. publishers. Is one ot the best
| amateur players in the city. The best stage
performer Is said TO be Mr.. Charles L. Dobson
who played tho banjo in Waack's Theatre or
chestra for one engagement the first time the
BANJO has been used IN the regular orthodox or
ch"stra. rs the associations Of the banjo have