Improvements in Banjos.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 26th June, 1894-Accepted, 28th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Banjos.
I, FRANK CECIL WILKES, of 86 Tib Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Banjo Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in banjos whereby the sounds
produced thereby are rendered more distinct, effective and pleasing than has
heretofore been usual with this class of instrument as ordinarily constructed.
According thereto I glue or otherwise attach to the vellum or other drum of a
banjo, a strengthening piece of suitable material, as for example celluloid, of
annular or other suitable shape and afterwards cut away that portion of the vellum
that is inside the said strengthening piece which serves to prevent the vellum or
other material from tearing or splitting at the edge of the hole. To or within the
rearside of the circular frame of the banjo, which is preferably of wood covered
with metal, is fitted a suitable sounding board, that serves to throw the sounds
produced when playing the instrument, forward through the hole in the vellum.
If desired two or more holes with strengthened edges may be provided in the
vellum drum.
My invention can be applied to zither banjos as well as to ordinary banjos.
Dated this 29th day of January 1894.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
Improvements in Banjos.
I, FRANK CECIL WILKES, of 86 Tib Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Banjo 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 has reference to improvements in banjos whereby the sounds.
produced thereby are rendered more distinct, effective, and pleasing than has
heretofore been usual with this class of instrument as ordinarily constructed.
According thereto I glue or otherwise attach to the vellum or other drum of a
banjo, a strengthening piece of suitable material, as for example celluloid, of
annular or other suitable shape and afterwards cut away that portion of the vellum
that is inside the said strengthening piece, which then serves to prevent the vellum
or other material from tearing or splitting at the edge of the hole thus produced.
To or within the rearside of the circular frame of the banjo, which is preferably
of wood covered with metal, is fitted a suitable sounding board, that serves to
throw the sounds produced when playing the instrument, forward through the hole
in the vellum. If desired two or more holes with strengthened edges may be
provided in the vellum drum.
In the accompanying drawings,

page_text: Fig. 2 a side elevation partly in longitudinal central section, shewing a banjo
constructed according to this invention.
1 is the drum head of the banjo formed of vellum or the like secured in the
ordinary well known way around the circular head or frame, which may be formed
of a hoop 2 of wood surrounded by a hoop 2ª of metal. 3 is a circular hole formed
in the drum head, its edge being strengthened by a ring 4 of light material such
as celluloid glued or otherwise secured to the drum head preferably before the
hole 3 is cut therein. As will be obvious there may be more than one such hole
in the drum head if desired. 5 is a disc secured to the rear end of the circular
frame 2, 2ª so as to close the same and act as a sounding board to increase the
musical effect of the instrument when the same is being played. This disc or
sounding board may advantageously be of dished sheet metal as shown, or it may
be of wood, and may conveniently be fixed in position between the wooden hoop 2
and an inwardly projecting bead 2' on the metal hoop 2". 6 is the ordinary wooden
extension of the neck 7 which extends across the interior of the head in the
usual way.
As will be obvious my invention can be applied to zither banjos as well as to
ordinary banjos.
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
1. A banjo having a drum head formed with one or more holes and provided
with one or more strengthening pieces secured around the said hole or holes
substantially as herein described for the purpose specified.
2. A banjo provided with a perforated drum head and with a sounding board
arranged behind the said drum head substantially as herein described for the
purpose specified.
3. My improved banjo constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 26th day of June 1894.