Improvements in Banjos.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 10th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 15th Mar., 1890
TROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Banjos.
I, ARTHUR TILLEY, of Egremont House, St. James's Road, Surbiton, in the county
of Surrey, Professor of the Banjo, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates mo re particularly to that class of musical instruments know
as zither-banjos but is also applicable to ordinary banjos.
In carrying out my invention I prefer to employ a metal hoop of the construction
described in the Specification of my former patent No. 11147 of 11th August 1884.
I place this hoop carrying the skin within an outer box or casing of wood the flange
of the metal hoop resting on small brackets in the casing, the two parts being
connected together by suitable means such as by screws. The wooden casing is of
larger diameter than the metal hoop so that a clear space is left between the hoop and
the casing. I employ a metal bezel or cap which I place round the edges of the hoop
and casing in such a manner as to give a bearing to the wrist or arm of the player
and to act as a guard to prevent the player's wrist or arm from touching the skin
which is so detrimental to the tone of the instrument. The cap is perforated to prevent
the sound being muffled, and the back of the case has holes therein to allow the
introduction of the key for turning the tension screws.
the 0th day of May 1980
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Banjos.
I, ARTHUR TILLEY, of Egremont House, St. James's Road, Surbiton, in the county
of Surrey, Professor of the Banjo, 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:-
This invention relates more particularly to that class of musical instruments known
as zither-banjos but is also applicable to ordinary banjos.
In carrying out my invention I prefer to employ a metal hoop of the construction
described in the specification of my former patent No. 11147 of 11th August 1884.
I place this hoop carrying the skin within an outer box or casing of wood the flange
of the metal hoop resting on small brackets in the casing, the two parts being
connected together by suitable means such as by screws. The wooden casing is of
larger diameter than the metal hoop so that a clear space is left between the hoop
and the casing. I employ a metal bezel or cap which I place round the edges of the
hoop and casing in such a manner as to give a bearing to the wrist or arm of the
player and to act as a guard to prevent the player's wrist or arm from touching the
skin which is so detrimental to the tone of the instrument. The cap is perforated to
prevent the sound being muffled and the back of the case has holes therein to allow
the introduction of the key for turning the tension screws.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe how it
can be carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawing in which
Figure 1 is a plan; and
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the body of a banjo constructed according to my
invention.
Similar letters in both the figures indicate similar parts.

page_text: former patent, and upon which the skin (not shown in the drawing) is stretched ;
is the outer box or casing of wood within which the metal hoop a with the skin
thereon is placed; c, c, c are the brackets in the casing on which the flange d of the
metal hoop a rests, e, e are screws whereby the metal hoop a and the casing bare
connected together; findicates the space which is left between the hoop a and the
casing bg is the metal bezel or cap which I place round the edges of the hoop a and
the casing to give a bearing to the wrist or arm of the player and prevent it from
touching the skin, the said bezel or cap being fastened to the rim or edge of the
casing by screws h h; i, i, i, figure 1, are the perforations or holes in the cap g to
prevent the sound being muffled and jj, figure 2, are the holes in the casing b to
allow the introduction of the key for turning the tension screws (not shown) for
tightening the skin.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The improvements in banios hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
mpanying drawings.
Dated the 10th day of February 1890.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.