Improvements in Zither Banjoes
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Jan., 1900-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1900
I, JOHN THOMAS CHERRY, Teacher of Music, 2, Bedford Park, Plymouth, Devonshire,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Improvements in Zither Banjoes.
The main design (see drawing on Sheet No. 1 Fig. 1) thereof (for which patent
rights are asked) is formed of 13 (more or less) pieces of half tubular or gutter shape
(see Figs. 1 & 6 Sheet No. 2) erected on one end and keyed together by 13 (more or
less) pieces of shape shown in Sheet 2 of Drawing Fig. 2 [subject to improvement
by the applicant.] The 26 pieces being placed together, the shape or design to be
protacted is the result-for which see Fig. 1 Sheet one. When fitted together by the key.
pieces, the whole of the pieces are pinned, screwed, glued or otherwise made a fixture
to each other. This shape is then pinned, screwed, glued or otherwise fastened to a
flat piece (or otherwise) of wood, metal or any material circumstances may demand.
The shape of the flat piece of wood, metal, or other material used, being similar round
the edging as the main design (vide Fig. 1 Sheet 1). At the bottom of each curved
section is a small tympanum or miniature sound-board of a D or ☐ shape erected (at
an angle of 45° (more or less) into the hollow of the curve (vide Fig. 6 Sheet 2) thus
forming 13 (more or less) distinct soundboards, tympanums or sound increasers.
These may be of wood, metal, or any suitable material. At the inner surface of the
flat piece is fastened a concave circular, sound-reflector (vide Fig. 5 (side view) Sheet 2)
of wood, metal or any other material. This sound-reflector is raised from the flat
piece as shown in see Fig. 5 fixed or detachable at will, or let in partly or fully to the
Alat piece. The main design pattern, shape or form see Fig. 1 Sheet 1 may be
produced in case of necessity by the applicant from one solid piece or more, by
tnrning, drilling, carving, casting, moulding, or any other method such as steam
pressure and the like, and the sound-reflector, and tympanums (13 more or less) placed
afterwards. On the outer edge of key pieces a dissected column of wood (or any
material suitable) cut through from end to end, is fastened to it (see Figs. 2 & 4
letters H.P. Sheet 2) thus finishing the outer form, shape, design or pattern for which
patent is asked. The following is the key to lettering on Sheet No. 1 (Drawing).
A. One of the curved sections which form the design-for larger view, see N°. 2
Sheet Figs. 1 and 6.
B. Showing where the key piece is inserted (shown in Sheet 2 Fig. 2 natural size)
and holding the curved sections together; the small curve of the half column fastened
to the key piece (shown H.P. Fig. 2 Sheet 2) "Key" to lettering on Sheet No. 2
(Drawing).
S. Top section of semi-tubular or gutter shaped pieces Fig. 1.
K. Top section of key piece Fig. 2.
H. P. Top section of half-column attached, Fig. 2.

page_text: S.V. Side view of concave sound-reflector and scale.
1. Inner view of curved section (Fig. 1) erect; showing tympanum at bottom.
T. The tympanum raised to proper elevation as in completed design.
K. Dotted lines showing where keypiece would.
Improvements in Zither Banjoes.
JOHN THOMAS CHERRY, Teacher of Music, 2, Bedford Park, Plymouth, Devonshire.
I do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
رو
The invention named as above "Improvements in Zither Banjoes" is a complete
departure from all rules used in constructing zither banjoes. This invention is an
outer covering or receptacle for the hoop & skin (commonly called the vellum head of
the banjo) and is formed of 13 (thirteen) (more or less) distinct pieces of wood, metal,
or composition (any kind of either) of the shape as shown in Drawing Sheet No. 2-
Figures 1 and 6-left and accepted with the Provisional Specification. These pieces
being fastened, by any suitable means, at the bottom to the backboard provided,
are keyed together by 13 (thirteen) (more or less) pieces of the shape as shown in
Drawing Sheet No. 2, Fig. 2. The design of this outer covering or receptacle is shown
in Drawing Sheet No. 1, which gives front view of said design. After the two-
thirteen pieces (more or less) have been fastened together properly (and also suitably
fixed to the backboard) there is placed at the bottom inside the curve of each piece
(shaped as shown in Drawing Sheet No. 2 Figures 1 and 6) and erected at or to an
angle of 45 (more or less) a small resonator or tympanumn of D shape (shown in
Drawing Sheet No. 2, lettered I) which form one of the main parts of this invention.
There are 13 (thirteen) (more or less) of these small D shaped tympanums-and they
may be called "sound increasers or "sound incubators" (if this expression be
allowed) acting as they do individually and collectively, to augment the volume of
sound originally produced by the vibration of the strings stretched across the
vellum-head. These D pieces vary in their thickness according to the demands of
the circumstances; and are made of wood, metal, or any composition being glued in
the curve or suitably fastened in anyway to produce the best result accoustically-
that result being in the hand, and according to the skill of the constructor.
the circumference of the 13 pieces (more or less) of shape shown in Drawing Sheet
No. 2, Figures 1 and 6; and the 13 pieces (more or less) of the shape shown also in
Drawing Sheet No. 2 Fig. 2 and fastened by suitable means to the inner surface of
the backboard-is the main "sound reflector " or tympanum (shown in Drawing
Sheet No. 2, and lettered S.V.). This sound reflector or tympanum is made of wood,
metal, or any suitable material. The outer edge or circumference of this sound
reflector is brought sufficiently close to the edge of each D piece (the smaller
tympanums) so that they may, take up, augment, and throw forth the sound already
reflected from it; (that is the large "sound reflector)-each D piece (small tympanum)
acting individually and collectively for that purpose. There being thus 14 (more or
less) tympanums, or sound increasers formed and fixed within the circumference of
the cutter receptacle-the design of which is shown in Drawing Sheet No. 1. On the
outside of each key piece is suitably fastened a half column (or otherwise) shaped
Within

page_text: piece as shown in Drawing Sheet No. 2 and Fig. 2-and lettered H.P. This is more
or less for an ornamental purpose but they form part of the symmetry of the main
design shown in Drawing Sheet No. 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1. That the curved pieces (as shown in Drawing Sheet No. 2 Fig. 1 and 6) and the
key piece to hold the curved pieces together to produce design as shown in
Drawing Sheet No. 1 or are my invention.
2. That the large tympanum to feed the smaller D shaped tympanums which are
placed at the bottom of each curved piece (shaped as shown in Drawing Sheet No. 2
Fig. 1 and 6) is entirely my invention.
3. That the design as a whole, produced by the combination of parts (shown in
Drawing Sheet No. 1) is original and solely my invention.
Dated this 1st day of January 1900.
JOHN THOMAS CHERRY,
Applicant.