Improvements in or applicable to Banjos and similar Stringed Instruments.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1898
1000
4030
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Banjos and similar Stringed
Instruments.
We, WILLIAM ERNEST TEMLETT, Banjo Manufacturer, of 29, Charlotte Street,
Blackfriars Road, London, S.E., and FREDERICK LANGHAM, of 9, Falcon Terrace,
Falcon Road, Battersea, S.W., Banjo Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in improvements in or applicable to banjos and similar
stringed instruments.
In instruments of this class as at present constructed the nut is slotted and the
string after passing through the particular slot or groove provided for it is wound
round the peg. The friction set up by these slots or grooves is frequently so great
as to unequally stretch and sometimes abrade the string, thereby shortening its
life and making the operation of tuning difficult and uncertain. The object of this
invention is to overcome these defects. It is carried out as follows:-
A series of grooved rollers depending upon the number of strings are mounted
upon a wire or spindle passing transversely through the nut each string being
led over its corresponding roller on its way to the winding peg. As the point of
contact between the string and roller is peripheral, and the roller is free to turn
a clear bright note is produced, and the labour of winding is greatly lessened.
Moreover the strings answer at once to the slightest turn of the peg; which is not
the case with the old fashioned grooved nut.
Doted this 17th day of Folumar 1808
FRANCIS M. ROGERS,
Agent for the Applicants, 21, Finsbury Pavement, London, E.C.
Improvements in or applicable to Banjos and similar Stringed
Instruments.
We, WILLIAM ERNEST TEMLETT, Banjo Manufacturer, of 29, Charlotte Street,
Blackfriars Road, London, S.E., and FREDERICK LANGHAM, of 9, Falcon Terrace,
Falcon Road, Battersea, S.W., Banjo Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement: --
This invention consists in improvements in or applicable to banjos and similar
stringed instruments.
In instruments of this class as at present constructed the nut is slotted and the

page_text: string after passing through the particular slot or groove provided for it is wound
round the peg.
The friction set up by these slots or grooves is frequently so great
as to unequally stretch and sometimes abrade the string, thereby shortening its
life and making the operation of tuning difficult and uncertain. The object of this
invention is to overcome these defects. It is carried out as follows:-
A series of grooved rollers depending upon the number of strings are mounted
upon a wire or spindle passing transversely through the nut, each string being
led over its corresponding roller on its way to the winding peg. As the point of
contact between the string and roller is peripheral and the roller is free to turn
a clear bright note is produced and the labour of winding is greatly lessened.
Moreover the strings answer at once to the slightest turn of the peg; which is not
the case with the old fashioned grooved nut.
To enable our invention to be better understood we will describe the same more
fully by means of the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Fig. 1 shews the nut of a banjo as usually constructed.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view.
Fig. 3 is a side view and section shewing the way the grooved rollers are mounted.
In the drawing 1, represents the head of a banjo. Prior to our invention it
has been customary to cut a nick or slot 2, transversely through-the nut 3, through
which the string 4, passes on its way to the winding peg 5. The friction set up
by these slots or grooves is so great as to unequally stretch and sometimes abrade
the string, thereby shortening its life, and making the operation of tuning difficult
and uncertain, apart from the mechanical effort required to turn the peg. We
overcome all these defects as follows:-
-
A series of slots 2", are made transversely through the nut 3, which by prefer-
ence, and depending upon the grade" of the instrument, may be
made in ebony, bone, ivory, or the like suitable material. A small
hole is drilled lengthwise through the nut and a series of rollers 7, formed of metal
or other suitable material drilled centrally, inserted in the slots. A piece of wire 6,
is passed through the holes and the rollers threaded thereon. The strings are then
led over these grooved rollers and fastened to the winding peg in the usual manner.
We do not confine the application of our invention to banjos as it is obvious that
it can be applied to violins, violoncellos, guitars, the double bass, or any similar
instrument, of this class, by slight modifications incident to the instrument.
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 banjos and similar stringed instruments the combination and use of a
series of grooved rollers over which the strings are led, mounted and operating
in the way and manner and for the purposes set forth.
(2.) In a banjo or like stringed instrument the combination of a nut slotted
as at 2", the grooved rollers in said slots mounted upon a pin or spindle or the like,
the respective parts co-operating for the purposes specified.
Dated this 17th day of Decembar 1898
FRANCIS M. ROGERS,
Agent for the Applicants, 21, Finsbury Pavement, E.C.