An Improved Support for Banjoes and similar Instruments.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 19th Jan.,
1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Support for Banjoes and similar Instruments.
JOSEPH THOMAS MOORE of "Rousdon "Elmers End Road Anerley, S.E.
Gentleman 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 :-
A contrivance for holding and suspending a banjo or other similar musical
instrument in the ordinary position for playing on and to avoid the fatigue and
inconvenience of holding and supporting the same and to afford greater facility of
execution.
My invention consists in a cradle or rest of suitable formation for holding and
supporting the instrument the said cradle or rest being attached to a girdle or belt
passing round the waist of the player.
My invention is capable of various modifications in construction but the form
which I have found most convenient and which I prefer will be readily understood
on reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. a is the girdle or belt worn on the waist and fastened by the buckle b.
This girdle may be made of leather webbing or any material such as belts are
usually made of. d. is the cradle or rest into which the drum end of the banjo is
placed in the ordinary position for playing. The cradle or rest d. is suspended
from the belt a. by means of bands c. c attached to each end of d. and to the belt.
is a short strap attached to one end of the cradle and to that portion of the belt
immediately above it. The short strap e in combination with the other supporting
straps serves to retain the cradle in position so that the instrument is always
at the proper angle. The straps c. c'may be made of similar material to the
belt a.
The back g of the cradle I preferably construct in one piece about 1 inches in
height, and at right angles to it, as more fully shown in Figure 2, is the floor f.
upon which the instrument rests. This floor. I prefer to construct in one piece
continuously so as to prevent the metal parts of the drum of the banjo or
instrument causing inconvenience to the player when in a sitting posture.
Projecting about inch at right angles to the floor f. and parallel with the back 9.
are square points e. e¹³ which serve to prevent the instrument from slipping out of
the cradle.
I preferably construct the cradle of the shape of about one-third of the circum-
ference of the drum of the instrument as shown in Fig. 3 the width of the interior
between the back g. and the projections or square points e. being slightly longer
than the drum of the instrument to be held so that it may be inserted and removed
with facility.
The frame of the rest or cradle I preferably construct of metal, wood, millboard
or other suitable substance and cover the same with velvet, plush, cloth, silk or
other suitable material. I have found that a length of about 6 inches from the
lower edge of the belt to the floor of the centre of the cradle is a convenient
measurement for general use.
Fig. 2 is a sectional drawing of the contrivance on the line r. x. of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 illustrates the banjo placed in the cradle as worn by the player.
My invention admits of modifications in construction which would readily
suggest themselves to those making or using the same and I therefore do not

page_text: limit myself to the precise details of construction illustrated and described
herein.
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. A cradle, holder, or support for banjo or similar instrument attached to or
supported by a girdle or belt worn around the waist of the player.
2. The combination of belt, suspending-straps and cradle substantially as and for
the purpose described.
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