Improvements in Banjoes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st .Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 20th July, 1894-Accepted, 25th Aug.,
1894
Improvements in Banjoes.
I ARTHUR OCTAVIUS WINDSOR, of 94 Newhall Street, Birmingham, Cabinet
and Musical Instrument Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the construction of zither banjoes and more particularly
to the dome or back parts of such instruments.
The banjo is made with the usual arrangement for fingering. The rim of the
instrument upon which the skin is set, surrounded on the sides and back by a
shell or bowl, having a circular grooved rim. The said shell and rim form what is
termed the "back." The grooved rim is constructed from a piece or pieces of
suitable material, and is further provided with the circular groove to receive the
ends of ribs or segments, which have been shaped, bent or moulded, such ribs being
fitted and glued or otherwise secured together, and thereby to form the dome part
of the back.
Dated this 18th day of November 1893.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.
Improvements in Banjoes.
I ARTHUR OCTAVIUS WINDSOR, of 94 Newhall Street, Birmingham, Cabinet
and Musical Instrument Maker, 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 to the construction of zither banjoes and more particularly
to the dome or back parts of such instruments.
The banjo is made with the usual arrangement for fingering. The rim of the
instrument upon which the skin is set, is surrounded on the sides and back by a
shell or bowl, having a circular grooved rim. The said shell and rim form what is
termed the "back." The grooved rim is constructed from a piece or pieces of
suitable material, and is further provided with the circular groove to receive the
ends of ribs or segments, which have been shaped, bent or moulded, such ribs being
fitted and glued or otherwise secured together, and thereby to form the dome part
of the back.
In order to more clearly explain this my invention, I have appended hereunto an
illustrative drawing upon which are figures and numbers of reference, similar
numbers referring throughout the several views to the same thing or part. I have
however shown only such parts of the instrument that are necessary to illustrate
my invention.
Fig. 1, is a side external view of the shell or bowl &c., of a banjo constructed
according to my invention.
Fig. 2, is a rear view of the "back."
Fig. 3, is a sectional view of the said "back."
Figs. 4 & 5, are detached views of one of the ribs or segments of which the

page_text: "
i
Figs. 6 & 7, are also views of a modified form of rib or segment of which the
back may be made.
Fig. 8, is a building up block for putting together the back.
The (skin) rim of the instrument upon which the skin is set (not shown) as is
well known is carried within the "back." This back consists of the shell or
dome 9, and the grooved rim 10. As its name implies this grooved rim has the
groove 11, made therein, which receives the broad ends of the ribs 9, 9. These
ribs are preferably cut from flat pieces of wood of suitable thickness, and their one
end 12 bent and curved as shown, and glued, cemented or otherwise secured radially
together in order to form the "back" as shown in. Figs. 1, 2 & 3.
In thus building up the back various well known methods may be adopted, but
usually a block such as in Fig. 8, is used whose exterior corresponds to the desired
interior of the back, and upon whose surface the rim 10, and ribs 9, are secured
until dry and set in their position.
In some cases instead of making the ribs or segments from flat pieces of wood
and then bending them into shape, I may cut out segmental blocks as shown in
dotted lines in Figs. 6 & 7, and after glueing, cementing or otherwise securing
them together, shape them by turning in a lathe, and thereby fitting them into the
groove 11, of the rim 10, or otherwise securing them to the said rim 10.
'
The number and shape of these ribs may be varied according to requirement or
taste, as for instance, they may run radially (as shown) from circumference to
centre, or to any other point on the back, or they may be parallel or variously
intermixed.
.:
The instrument is then further finished and completed in the ordinary manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and the manner in. which the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. The building up or construction of the backs of banjoes, such as those shown
and described, by means of a number of segmental parts fitted and secured together
substantially in the manner herein described and illustrated.
2. The building up or construction of the backs of banjoes, such as those shown
and described, by means of a number of segmental parts fitted and secured together
in the groove 11, of the rim 10, substantially as set forth and shown.
Dated this 18th day of July 1894.
:
ARTHUR OCTAVIUS WINDSOR,
Applicant.