Improvements in Banjos.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Banjos.
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: -
According to this my invention the banjo is constructed somewhat as follows:--
As is well known broadly these banjos consist of a shell or case having a long
neck piece upon which is mounted the finger board, and within the shell or case
is fixed the tension base plate upon which the vellum is placed, and the tension
stretching ring, by which the vellum is stretched and held in strong tension.
Between the said ring and the shell is a considerable space which forms an air
chamber, and which said space is also occupied by the tension screws and the
projecting lugs through which the screws pass. One of the features of this my
invention is to provide that the projecting screw pin lugs upon the tension stretch-
ing ring shall butt up to and rest against the wood of the shell, thus giving
sonorous contact of the metal with the wood at such points.
Further. In the neck and beneath the finger board I make a longitudinal
hollow or groove into which sound holes (or perforations) are made from the
outside. This groove or hollow is continued into the air chamber in the shell
by an opening made through the side of the shell so that the air vibrations within.
the shell are also free to pass up and along the neck, beneath the finger board.
Again. The pole which extends as a continuation of the neck, across the
interior lower part of the shell has hitherto been made as one piece or bar, but I
find that by dividing (or thereabouts) its strength, and placing two instead of
one I obtain a better sound effect, it also serving to facilitate the making of the
opening from the shell into the neck chamber.
By these means the volume and purity of sound is much increased and also
the strength, and rigidity is improved, but with lesser weight than is ordinary.
Dated this 21st day of April 1898.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Banjos.
I, ARTHUR OCTAVIUS WINDSOR, of 94, Newhall Street, Birmingham, Cabinet
and Musical Instrument Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention

page_text: 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 improvements in banjos, and its object primarily is
to provide a direct contact between the vellum tension ring and the shell; also
to provide a longitudinal chamber in the neck; also improved construction of
the pole.
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 to the same thing or part.
Fig. 1, is a general view of a banjo made according to this my invention.
Fig. 2, is a part sectional side elevation of the banjo.
Fig. 3, is a plan view of the shell or body of the banjo with the vellum tension
ring &c. removed.
Fig. 4, is a cross sectional view of the neck of the banjo on line A-B Fig. 2.
Figs. 5 and 6 show modified forms of effecting contact of tension ring with
shell.
As is well known, broadly these banjos consist of a shell or case having a long
neck piece, upon which is mounted the finger board, and within the shell or case
is fixed the tension base plate upon which the vellum is placed, and the tension
stretching ring, by which the vellum is stretched and held in strong tension.
Between the said ring and the shell is a considerable space which forms an
air chamber, and which said space is also occupied by the tension screws and
the projecting lugs through which the screws pass. Now one of the features of
this my invention is to provide that the projecting screw pin lugs upon the
tension stretching ring shall butt up to and rest against the wood of the shell,
thus giving sonorous contact of the metal with the wood at such points.
8, is the shell; 9, is the neck whose upper surface forms the finger board over
which the strings 10 pass. 11 is the tension ring in which is fitted the tension
screws 12 in the usual manner. Upon the shell 8, I form the projections 13,
so that the outer edges of the ring 11, shall fit against such projections, thereby
establishing contact between the shell and the ring. In Fig. 5 I have shown a
modified manner in which such contact may be made by forming an exterior
ring 11 upon the tension ring 11, which shall fit into the shell 8 without the
use of the projections 13. Again, in Fig. 6, I have shown how I may dispense
with the ring 11ª, and use projecting lugs 11b which shall fit into corresponding
gaps 13, in the projections. 13, by which the desired contact may be effected.
Further. In the neck 9, see Figs. 2 and 4, and beneath the finger board I
make a longitudinal hollow chamber 14, into which sound holes (or perfora-
tions) 15 are made from the outside. This chamber is continued into the air
chamber 16, in the shell 8, by an opening 17, made through the side of the
shell so that the air vibrations within the shell are also free to pass up and
along the neck, beneath the finger board.
Again. The pole which extends as a continuation of the neck across the
interior lower part of the shell, has hitherto been made as one piece or bar, but
I find that by dividing (or thereabouts) its strength, and placing two parts 18, 18,
instead of one I obtain a better sound effect, it also serving to facilitate the
making of the opening 17, from the shell into the neck chamber.
By these means the volume and purity of sound is much increased and also
the strength, and rigidity is improved, but with lesser weight than is ordinary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. Adapting the shell 8, to furnish contact with the tension ring 11, by means
of projections 13 or the like substantially as herein set forth and shown, and for
the purpose specified.

page_text: 2. Adapting the tension ring 11, to form contact with the shell 8 by means
of outer ring 11ª, adapted to fit therein, substantially as herein set forth and
shown in Fig. 5.
3. Adapting the shell 8, and the ring 11, to form contact with each other by
means of the lugs 11b and gaps 13" or similar device substantially as herein set
forth and shown.
4. Forming in the neck 9, the chamber 14, with communication of such cham-
ber with the interior of the shell 8, and openings 15, all substantially as set
forth and shown.
5. Making the pole extension of the neck in two parts 18, 18, with central
opening 17, substantially as set forth and shown.
1
1000
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent,
158, Edmund Street, Birmingham.