Improvements in Zither Banjoes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 22nd July, 1897-Accepted, 28th Aug., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Zither Banjoes.
We JOHN EDWARD BREWSTER of 29 Sutherland Street Walworth HENRY FRANCIS
ROBERTS of 76 Weston Road and RICHARD LANGHAM of 32 Weston Place all in the
County of Surrey Banjo Makers do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to dispense with the carriages or brackets used to
attach the tension ring otherwise known as the flange hoop to the hoop of zither
banjoes.
Now according to this invention we form the tension ring or flange hoop of
L section and of any suitable metal or material. This tension ring or flange hoop has
two cross arms at right angles to each other formed integral with the said ring or
attached thereto. A hole is formed at the centre of the arms which hole is tapped
to receive a screw formed in one piece with a metal plate. The usual hoop and
sounding board is provided the said sounding board having an aperture in the centre
covered with a perforated metal plate or rose. About halfway down the hoop we fix
a second sounding board preferably of Swiss pine to which sounding board is secured
the metal plate to which the tension ring is attached thus supporting the said ring
without the aid of the usual brackets. The band for stretching the vellum is
preferably of L section and screws passing through the horizontal flanges of
tension-ring draw the band down over the said ring when vellum requires
tightening.
L1000
T. E. HALFORD,
11 Furnival Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.
We JOHN EDWARD BREWSTER of 29 Sutherland Street Walworth, HENRY FRANCIS
ROBERTS of 76 Weston Road and RICHARD LANGHAM of 32 Weston Place all in the
County of Surrey Banjo Makers, 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:-
The object of this invention is to dispense with the carriages or brackets used to
attach the tension ring otherwise known as the flange hoop to the hoop of zither
banjoes.
Now according to this invention we form the tension ring or flange hoop of
L section and of any suitable metal or other material.

page_text: This tension ring has two cross arms at right angles to each other formed integral
with the said ring or attached thereto. A hole is formed at the centre of the arms
which hole is tapped to receive a screw formed in one piece with a metal plate.
The usual hoop and sounding board is provided the said sounding board having
an aperture in the centre covered with a perforated metal plate or rose.
About halfway down the hoop we fix a second sounding board preferably of Swiss
pine to which sounding board is secured a metal plate to which the tension
ring is attached thus supporting the said ring without the aid of the usual
carriages or brackets,
The band for attaching the vellum is preferably of L section and screws passing
through the horizontal flanges of the tension ring and band draws the band down
over the said ring when the vellum requires tightening.
And in order that our said invention may be fully understood we will proceed
to explain the same with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in
which:-
Fig. 1 represents section of a portion of a zither banjo constructed according to
this invention.
Fig. 2 is part plan of same with vellum removed.
The same letters denote the same parts in all the figs.
a is the tension ring or flange hoop of L section brass gunmetal or any other
suitable metal, alloy or other material. The ring a has two cross arms bb at
right angles to each other formed intergral with or attached to the said ring.
A hole c is formed at the centre of the arms b b which hole is tapped to receive a
screw a formed in one piece with a metal plate fof any suitable size and shape. g is
the usual wooden hoop of any suitable material to which is attached the sounding
board h. is the neck and j the finger board.
The sounding board à has an aperture k in the centre thereof which aperture we
cover with a perforated metal plate or rose l.
m is a second sounding board preferably of Swiss pine fixed to the hoop g in any
convenient manner.
For example the board m may be turned to fit the hoop g and may be secured
therein by means of glue or screws or both.
The sounding board m is preferably fixed about halfway down the hoop g.
The metal plate f to which the tension ring is secured is attached to the sounding
board m by means of screws n which pass through the board m and engage with a
piece of wood o on the upper side of the board m.
The band p for stretching the vellum q is preferably of L section and secured to
the tension ring a by screws r passing through the horizontal flanges of the tension
ring a and band p which screws draw the band p down when the vellum requires
tightening.
By this construction the usual carriages or brackets used to attach the tension ring.
to the hoops of zither banjoes are dispensed with.
The neck finger boards and pegs or machine head are of the usual construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In a zither banjo the combination with the usual hoop and sounding board of
& second sounding board to which is secured an angle section tension ring to which
ring is attached by means of screws or bolts a band (preferably of angle section) for
tightening the vellum substantially as hereinbefore specified. "
2. In a zither banjo the construction and use of an angle section tension ring
carrying the vellum and band for tightening the same the said tension ring being
attached to the centre of a second sounding board about halfway between the edge of
the hoop and the usual sounding board as hereinbefore specified.
3. In a zither banjo the construction and use of a second sounding board situated

page_text: between the upper edge of the hoop and the usual sounding board and having a
tension ring attached to the centre thereof for the purpose stated.
4. Zither banjoes constructed as shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of Inly 1807
T. E. HALFORD,
11 Furnival Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicants.