A Mute and Zither Attachment for Banjos and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: A Mute and Zither Attachment for Banjos and the like.
We, SAMUEL BOWLEY BARNES, and ALBERT EDWARD MULLINS, both of Seamore
Chambers, Bournemouth West, Music Publishers, 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 render the tones of all musical instruments having.
a flexible drum hend or belly, as for instance banjos and the like, soft and dulcet in
expression at the will of the performer, and to do so quickly and conveniently whilst
playing the instrument. I will now describe the invention with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shews a plan view of our improved banjo, the flexible head being removed.
Fig. 2 shews a section of same.
Fig. 3 shews a plan of the disc Cand rubber ring A.
Fig. 4 shews a side view of same in section with supports and fittings.
It will be seen that beneath the flexible head H is placed the moveable disc Cor
similar device, on the upper side of which is the ring or collar of india-rubber A. The
disc C is acted upon by a spring G fastened at its lower extremity to the fixed base D),
which is attached to the lower portion of the instrument. The upper part of this
spring passes through a small staple Land bears upon a small block N at the back of
the disc C thereby raising the disc C in such a manner as to press it firmly against
the lower surface of the flexible head Himmediately beneath the bridge of the
instrument. From side to side of the instrument and passing over the spring Gis
the lever B which revolves freely within bearings which can be attached either to the
sides of the instrument or upon the base D, being kept in position by means of a
collar at each end and rendered friction tight by incans of the spring E. This lever
extends through the side of the instrument or of the straining rim at a point most
convenient to the player at which end a controlling handle F is fixed.
At the point
where the rod B crosses the spring Ga pin or eccentric cam M is fixed which upon
the controlling handle being turned up or down presses in turn upon the spring G
and depresses it, carrying with it the disc C which thus removes the pressure upon
the under surface of the flexible head and causes the instrument to sound with
undiminished tone. By moving the controlling lever back again the spring G is
released and again asserts its influence upon the disc C causing it to mute the sound
as before.
O. P. are pins and sockets which form telescopic supports for the disc C and the
rubber ring A.
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:
In a banjo or other similar stringed instrument the muting and zither attachment
consisting of the disc C and rubber ring A, the spring G, lever B, with its pin or

page_text: cain M and handle F, and the supporting pins and sockets O, P; as herein described
and set forth.
Dated this 7th day of Men 1907
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicants.