IMPROVEMENTS IN BANJOS AND SIMILAR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
and Co Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN BANJOS AND SIMILAR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
13 communi-
it
cated to him from abroad by Hercules MoCord, of St Louis, Missouri, United
States of America
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th May 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co; Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN BANJOS AND SIMILAR
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS communicated to me from abroad by Hercules McCord
of St Louis Missouri United States of America
This invention relates to banjos and similar instruments and has for its object
improvements in the means for strengthening the neck scroll, in the mode of
connecting the straining wires with the straining hoop, in the means of preventing
the neck of the banjo from swaying when the operator releases his hold upon the.
neck, in the mode of connecting the straining wires with the back part of the body,
in the mode of fastening the straining wires at the centre of the back of the body,
in the mode of constructing and attaching the tail piece, in the mode of attaching
the neck to the body, in the arrangement of the strings and in the means for
preventing the body from slipping in the lap of the operator
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1. is a front elevation of a banjo constructed according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same.
Figure 3. is an edge elevation of the head, looking toward the tail piece;
Figure 4 is a section on the line 4, 4, Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the mechanism at the back of the banjo head.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of parts shown in Figure 5.
Figure 7 is an elevation of the inner nut used in the tightening device at the
centre of the back of the instrument.
Figure 8 is an elevation of the outer nut of the tightening device.
Figure 9 is an external view of the tightening device.

page_text: Figure 10 is a detail view looking toward the inner side of the back of the
banjo-body and showing the mode of connecting the wires with the back of the
said body.
Figure 11 is a section on the line 11, 11 Figure 4, drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 12 is a section on the line 12, 12, Figure 4.
Figure 13 is a section on the line 13, 13, Figure 15.
Figure 14 is an elevation of the parts shown in Figure 13.
Figure 15, a top view of the parts shown in Figure 13.
Figure 16, is a section on the line 16, 16, Figure 1.
Figure 17, is a plan of the collar
with the body.
upon the bolt that connects the neck extension
Figure 18, is an elevation of the tail-piece.
OG
Figure 19, is a section on the line 19, 19, Figure 1.
Figure 20, is a section on the line 20, 20, Figure 18.
Figure 21, is a section through the back part of the banjo-body showing the
upper arm;
Figure 22, is an elevation, partly. in section, of the neck-scroll; and
Figures 23 and 24, are a top and side view respectively, of a portion of the
banjo-neck;
Figure 25, is an elevation, showing a modification of the mode of attaching the s
straining wires to the straining-hoop.
Figure 26, is a section on the line 26, 26, Figure 25.
Figure 27 is an edge elevation of a portion of the body showing the lap-
projection, and
Figure 28, is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the parts before straining
the hoop.
'
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A, indicates the body of the banjo, which body consists of a shell of metal, or
other suitable material, of the shape substantially as shown; that is to say; at the
top where the head B is attached, the said body is furnished with an inturned,
rounded flange bearing a, at a¹ there is an inwardly extending offset, at the centre
of the bottom there is a recess A¹, and from the offset a inward toward the
recess A' the shell is rounded, and the shell is also rounded in forming the entrance
to the recess A'. The head B is stretched over the rounded bearing a, the said
head, for this purpose, being attached to the ring b which encircles the body A
above the offset a¹, and the usual straining hoop C being fitted to bear down upon
the ring.
D, D, indicate wires, cords, or bands, used in straining the head B. At their
upper ends the wires D, are connected with the hoop C and at their lower ends,
with a device, by means of which all the said wires can be simultaneously
tightened. Between the hoop C and the tightening device E: the wires pass
over the shell of the body A. The mode of connecting the wires with the hoop
and device is preferably as follows, that is to say; D¹, D¹, indicate what may be
termed heads, to which the straining wires D, D, are connected, the said beads
are perforated at d, and grooved at d' substantially as shown in Figures 13, 14, 15.
A wire D, having at its end an enlargement d², is passed through a perforation d
after which the said wire is wrapped around the head in the groove d'. This
serves to unite the wire, D and the head D¹. The straining hoop C is provided
with a series of projections c, c, having slots or perforations c', c¹ The wire D,
is drawn through the slot or perforation c², and thence is carried in and along
an indentation a*, Figures 3 and 11, in the back a", of the banjo head near
its periphery, from the indentation a*, the wire passes into a tubular guide a²,
Figures 10, 12, and from the guide a it passes to the tightening device at the
centre of the back of the instrument. The guides a², a², are conveniently formed
out of the portions of the back which are struck up in forming the openings a³, a³,
in the back, the ends of the straining wires are assembled at the centre of
the back of the instrument, and are there connected with the tightening device E,

page_text: which is constructed mainly of an inner nut e an outer nut e¹ and a bolt e² The
ends of the wires are passed respectively through perforations e³, e³, Figures 5
and 7 in the nut. The perforations e³, e³, are in a flange e of the nut e, which is
also provided with the flange e. The outer nut el is provided with the flange e
and is recessed, at e7 to receive the flange e*. The nut e¹ is also extended and
threaded at e8, to adapt it to be screwed into the nut e. By screwing the nut e¹
into the nut e, the ends of the straining wires are bound between the flange e
of the outer nut and the flange e of the inner nut, and are also bound between the
flange e, of the inner nut and the central portion of the nut e'. In this manner.
the wires are secured between the nuts e, e¹. The bolt e², is adapted to be
screwed into a bell-shaped portion a, at the centre of the back of the instrument.
The said part a', is fastened to and virtually made part of the back of the
instrument, the wires are then tightened by screwing the bolt e, into the part a³,
which operation draws the nuts e, e, into the said part a', and tightens the
heads D₁, D, against the projections c, o, of the straining hoop C, substantially as
shown in Figure 3. As it is desirable to be able to readily loosen the straining
wires the bolt e², is preferably so connected with the nuits e, e¹ as to cause the said
nuts, when the bolt is unscrewed, to be drawn out from the part a*. To this end
the said bolt is provided with a collar, e which is confined (but so that it can be
rotated) beneath a holder elo, which, in turn, is fastened to a washer, e¹¹. This
washer is notched at e¹ Figure 9, to pass the lugs e¹³, (Figures 5 and 9,) in the
nut e¹. After placing the washer in position it is turned around to bring the
notches out of coincidence with the lugs as in Figure 9, then when the bolt e² is
withdrawn from the part a', the nuts e, e¹ follow the bolt e causing the wires D, D,
to be slipped backward through the guides a³, a², and indentations a*, a*, and the
heads D, D', in consequence to be loosened from their bearings c, c,. It is
frequently desirable in using an instrument like a banjo to release the hold on
the neck; at such times the said neck is liable to sway and drop out of its proper
position. To prevent this the head of the banjo is provided with an arm F
Figures 2 and 21 which, when the operator's arm is around the body of the
instrument is pressed against the person of the operator sufficiently to keep the
banjo from swaying. I do not wish to limit myself to any special form of arm
for this purpose although that shown I consider the most desirable form, the said
arm is located near the edge of the banjo head substantially as shown in
Figure 2.
g
G indicates the tail piece of the instrument; it consists of an U-shaped piece
of wire bent substantially as shown in Figures 1, 18, 19. Several advantages
accrue from this mode of constructing a tail picce. The strings of a banjo or
other stringed instrument, are liable to part in the immediate vicinity of the tail
piece, as hitherto constructed and attached; this is due to the mode in which the
strings have been attached to the tail piece. In the present construction the bar
of the tail piece, is perforated at g¹ Figures 18, 20, and the string is passed
through the perforation, and is then wrapped around the bar g, as shown in
Figure 20. The strain on the string is then distributed upon an extended surface
and the said string is thereby prevented from breaking. It will be noticed that
the upper or bent part g², of the tail piece is bent slightly downward as shown in
Figure 19, the effect of this is to bring the ends of the strings closer to the
parchment B, the result of which is to draw the strings to better advantage over
the bridge H and to produce greater pressure on the same, for, by reason of the
inclination, as described, of the part g2 of the tail piece, the strings are caused to
incline upward to the bridge H. A further advantage is this; the tail piece as
heretofore made has not been attached rigidly, but so that its inner end, to which
the strings are attached, can be swayed to the right or left over the banjo-body,
therefore, when the operator's hand is drawn sideways over the strings, of the
instrument, the bridge is liable to be displaced laterally. In the present case it
will be noticed that the tail piece is rigidly attached to the banjo-body, so that it

page_text: cannot be swayed laterally and to this end the most convenient practice is to
construct the tail piece so as to have two points of bearing upon the banjo-body,
as shown. The tail-piece G is conveniently attached to the body by springing the
ends g³, g³ toward each other, and then passing them through the perforations g‚Ì':
and then allowing the ends g³, g³ to open apart, and catch against the edges
surrounding the perforations g³, g' substantially as indicated in Figures 18, 19,
The neck I as shown in Figures 2 and 16' is pivotted at J to the body and the
end of the said neck is secured by means of a screw bolt K which passes
through the end I and thence through a perforation in the shell all of the banjo-
body into a nut which is held, so that it cannot be rotated, in a casing k¹
attached to the inner side of the banjo head.
:
The nut is adapted to be moved laterally, to a limited extent in the casing k
for the reason that frequently in attaching the neck of a banjo to the banjo head
it is found it needs to be turned to bring it to the proper angle with the head.
The arrangement described for the lateral adjustment of the nut k provides for
the desired adjustment with the banjo-neck, for it is only necessary to incline the
said neck to the desired angle and then to secure it by tightening the bolt K, in
the nut k, which operation draws the end I¹ towards the body. A leather
washer, is interposed between the nut k and the shell of the banjo head, and
another. washer may be inserted between the body, and the end I'. The inner
washer serves to lock the nut k in the desired place, and by means of the outer
washer ³, the end l' can be set nearer to, or further from the body A, and the
scroll-end of the neck adjusted accordingly
The improvement further relates to the straining hoop, to the mode of arranging
the thumb string of the bango, and to the means for preventing the banjo-body from
slipping. in the operators lap
'
Hitherto, as banjos have been finished for the trade, the upper edge of the
straining hoop is flush with the parchment. The consequence is that when the
straining boop is subsequently moved to restretch the parchment, the upper edge
of the hoop is brought below the level of the parchment, exposing it at its edge, to
wear.
This difficulty is obviated in the present construction as follows; The straining
hoop, C, when first applied to the banjo, is arranged to bring the upper edge c³, 80
far above the parchment B, that even after the latter.has been repeatedly stretched,
and the straining hoop correspondingly lowered upon the banjo-body A, the upper.
edge c³, is at least even with the parchment. But an ordinary straining hoop
arranged as described, would interfere with the proper arrangement of the tail-
piece, G. and the strings L L; accordingly the straining hoop is notched at c³,
Figure 3 to receive the tail piece, and at c, where the strings pass over the hoop;
The tail piece and strings can then be in their customary places. The straining
hoop can be drawn down upon the banjo head by any of the usual appliances.
The strings L, saving the thumb-string. L', are strung in the usual manner. In
place however, of attaching the thumb-string, at its upper end, to a screw held in
the banjo-neck, I, it is, at the point on the neck, where the supporting-screw has
heretofore been attached, carried over a suitable support M, and, thence, downward
into a groove or slit, N, in the neck, through which groove or slit it is carried to
the scroll I where it is attached to an ordinary thumb screw O, similar to those
used in holding and stretching the strings L L. The advantage of this mode of
arranging the thumb-string is that the neck I is free from projections, enabling the
operator to pass his hand freely along the said neck.
A banjo of the kind hereinbefore described is liable, in use to slip in the lap of
the operator. To prevent this the banjo at the back of the head is provided with
a projection, which, when the instrument is being used, comes against the lap of the
operator, serving thus to hold the said instrument in place;
'
The preferable mode of accomplishing this is shown in Figure 4 where P indicates
a projection, upon the body A. The said projection is preferably of the form

page_text: indicated in Figures 2, 4 and 27, which form is desirable, in that it readily finds a
hold in the operators lap. I do not however wish to limit myself to any special
form of projection not to the precise point, of the head from which the projection
extends
To strengthen the scroll I' of the neck I a piece Q is inserted, as shewn in
Figures 1. 2 and 22. The grain of the wood of the piece Q, as indicated in
Figure 22, runs in a direction contrary to that of the grain of the main portion of
the scroll I'
In Figures 25 and 26 is shown another mode of connecting the wires with the
straining hoop C. The said wires are wound upon pins cc, which project from
the hoop. The flange a and offset a¹ Figure 16 serve to stiffen the body of the
banjo and to prevent it from collapsing when the strings are strained. The
flange A also serves to guide the tightening device E as it is drawn toward the
banjo-body. Figure 28 illustrates the position of the wires D D and the device E,
before the wires D D are strained and Figure 5 illustrates the position of the parts
after the wires are strained
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim
First. In a banjo or similar musical instrument, a tightening device arranged
centrally in a recess in the body and common to the different straining wires,
substantially as set forth.
Second. In a banjo or similar musical instrument, the combination of a tightening
device common to all the straining wires, and depressions or channels formed in,
upon, through or underneath the shell of the body of the instrument, substantially
as described.
Third. The combination, in a banjo, of the head B, the body A and the tightening
wires D D D, the said wires at their upper ends being attached to the tightening
hoop C, and their lower ends, in straining the head, being drawn toward the said
head.
Fourth. In a banjo or similar musical instrument, the combination of a
tightening device and a series of tightening wires, the said wires leading over or
through channels in the shell of the body of the instrument, to the said tightening
device.
Fifth. In a banjo or similar musical instrument, the body A having an inwardly
or outwardly turned flange a for the purpose described.
Sixth. A banjo, or similar musical instrument, the body A of which has an
offset a', for the purpose described.
Seventh. A banjo having a notched straining hoop, for the purpose described.
Eighth. The combination, in a banjo, of the notched straining hoop C and the
tail-piece G, substantially as described.
Ninth. The combination, in a banjo, of the notched straining hoop C and the
strings LL, substantially as described.
Tenth. The combination of the neck I having the groove or slit N, and the
string L', substantially as described.
Eleventh. A banjo having the thumb-string L' passing over a support M, and
thence carried to a tightening screw O, at the head of the banjo neck.
Twelfth. A banjo having a projection P extending from the back of the head of
the banjo, for the purpose described.
Thirteenth. A banjo the back of the head of which is rounded and has a projection
extending therefrom for the purpose described
Fourteenth. A banjo having the projection F, as, and for the purpose, described.
Fifteenth. The neck-scroll I' having the piece Q inserted therein, as, and for the
purpose, described.
Sixteenth. The combination of the hoop C having the projections c, c, the
wires D D, and the heads D', D', substantially as described.

page_text: Seventeenth. The combination of the body A having the guide a³ and
indentation a*, and the wires D D, substantially as described.
Eighteenth. The tightening device E., as, and for the purpose, described.
Nineteenth. The tail-piece G, attached rigidly to the body A, as described
Twentieth. The tail-piece G having the part 9 inclined downward to the
parchment B as, and for the purpose, described.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Thirtieth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three