Year: 1897

page_text: We, HENRY RILEY and WILLIAM JOSEPH Riley, trading as Joseph Riley and
Sons, of Constitution Hill, and Corporation Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Musical Instrument Manufacturers and Dealers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the construction and the manufacture of banjos of
both the ordinary and of the zither types, and also to detail fittings of the
same.
•
In carrying out our improvements in connection. with an ordinary banjo, the
body part or outer ring, which is made preferably of metal, is stiffened or
reinforced by an inwardly directed annular flange or horizontal feather, standing
inwardly from the inside walls, at a part disposed rather above the middle line.
The outer surface of the hoop or body is annularly stepped at a point about
opposite to the inside flange and then tapers away or diminishes down to the
lower edge or bottom rim, whilst disposed around the upper outer edge of the said
hoop is a vellum-stretcher ring or bezel by which tension is put upon the vellum,
by the under edge of the said ring impinging upon the vellum wire encircling
the said hoop below the ring, whilst the vellum stretched over the body comes
between the bezel and the edge of the said body and then passes round-the vellum
wire and upwards again as usual. Screws for tensioning up the said vellum pass
vertically downwards through plain holes in the ring, whilst the screwed ends
take into deep tapped holes formed vertically downwards through the annular
outside flange formed by the stepping, which said tapped holes may be bushed or
otherwise.
The neck may be of any known construction, but no crossing pole is necessary
when the internal reinforcing rib is employed, or the end of the neck may be
fashioned into a dowel or peg taking into a metallic socket or shoe attached by
screwing or otherwise to the hoop. In this case, we may or may not employ a
crossing pole.
In carrying out another form of this part of our invention, the vellum stretching
ring is made of a section resembling somewhat the figure of a key, viz., with
a semi-circular head, separated from the lower part by a neck or contraction.
The top edge of the ring provided with equi-distant gaps or sinkings, wherein
the upper and hooked ends of the tensioning screws, take, and there lie, with their
tops coming perfectly flush with the ring, whilst the parts below the said hooked.
ends lie flush in vertical grooves or sinkings in the face of the said ring, and
finally, the screwed lower ends take through separated brackets or a bracket flange.
(secured to the hoop by screws from the inside), and receive nuts which bear
against the undersides of the brackets or bracket flange.
In carrying out that part of our invention relating to zither banjos, an outer
circular and shallow wood case is taken and fitted with hanging brackets. The
upper vertical web of each bracket is connected by screws to the inside walls of

page_text: the casing whilst the horizontal web or step part extends inwardly and terminates
by a depending lip, wherethrough screws pass in securing the cast or other metal
hoop or inner drum to the outer casing. Surrounding the upper and outer part
of the metal hoop or body is an L-sectioned vellum tensioning ring, under which
is the vellum wire, and through the horizontal part thereof, the shanks of headed
tension bolts pass, with the screwed lower ends taking into wormed holes in
the horizontal step parts of the separated connecting brackets. The lower edge of the
hoop in order to improve the tone of the instrument and ornament and lighten the
same, is fashioned into inward scollops, preferably of a pointed arch-shaped figure,
alternating with semi-circular or similar shaped cars or parts, which are gapped
vertically into branches or forks, which form sockets or seatings wherethrough the
screw pins affixing the hoop to the connecting brackets, pass, so that in
order to remove the hoop, it is only necessary to first slightly slacken these screws
and then lift the hoop up vertically.
Instead of connecting the inner drum to the outer case by means of separated
brackets, as described, the scolloped lower edge of the form may be provided with
an outwardly directed annular flange, into screwed holes in which, the lower
screwed ends of the tensioning pius passing through the tensioning ring take and
also pass through the inwardly directed lower flanged ends of the ordinary
brackets for connecting the inner hoop to the outer case. Arch-shaped
openings are saw-pierced or otherwise formed in the hoop immediately above the
flange.
In carrying out our invention in connection with tail pieces for both ordinary
and zither banjos, the tail piece, which may be of any pattern, is connected to the
vellum tensioning ring by two separated screws, thus preventing lateral play,
whilst taking into a flange or extension of the said ring, is a third screw, with its
head abutting against the underside of the back part of the tail, through which
a hole is made, coincident with or lying over the screw, but of a less size thau
the head, so as to admit of a small turn screw being passed therethrough for its
adjustment.
The strings pass, as usual, under the front semi-circular side of the tail piece,
and then obliquely cross the gap, and pass backwardly through keep channels or
grooves formed in the tail piece adjacent to the front edge of a gap, and then
pass onto the string pins fixed on the top of the tail piece, when the said strings
then lie perfectly flush in the grooves of the said tail piece.
Dated this 15th day of November 1897.
HENRY RILEY.
WILLIAM JOSEPH RILEY.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicants.
We, HENRY RILEY and WILLIAM JOSEPH RILEY, trading as Joseph Riley and Sons,
of Constitution Hill and Corporation Street, in the City of Birmingham, Musical
Instrument Manufacturers and Dealers, 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 relates to the construction and the manufacture of banjos of both
the ordinary and of the zither types, and also to detail fittings of the same.

page_text: Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a topside plan of a banjo
embodying our improvements.
Figure 2 represents, upon an enlarged scale, a longitudinal vertical section.
thereof upon the dotted line a..
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the said banjo on the same scale as Figure 2.
Figure 4 represents a section of the tail piece of the instrument upon the dotted
line ¹.
Figure 5 is a cross section of the neck upon the dotted line 2.
The same letters of reference indicato corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawings.
1
In constructing a banjo according to the said invention, the hoop or body part a,
which is preferably made of metal, is stiffened or reinforced by au internal:
annular flange or horizontal feather a², which is directed inwardly from the inside,
walls, at a point rather above the middle line of the hoop, the outer periphery
of which is made of two diameters, 2 being the upper and small part, whilst a³
is the larger and lower portion, with the annular step a, between them, coming/
at a point about opposite to the inside flange a. Encircling the upper end of the
hoop, is a vellum-stretcher ring or bezel b, by which the vellum head c, of the:
instrument is held in place and tensioned by its under edge b', impinging against
the vellum wire d, which is in the form of a ring, encircling the top of the hoop,
and around which the edges of the vellum are passed and then come between the.
bezel and the outer surface of the hoop as usual. The drawing down of the ring h,.
for tensioning or tightening up the vellum is effected by means of a series
of screws e, passing vertically downwards through plain holes 610 in the said ring,
whilst the screw tail ends e², take into inside screwed bushes f, preferably made of.
gun metal, and secured, so as to be incapable of rotation, within the upper
parts g, of holes g, made around the shelf or step part at, of the loop, whilst the
continuations g², of the said holes are plain and receive and couceal the said tail:
ends of the screws.
The neck h, of the instrument, which has the finger board h², upon the top side
is dowelled at h³, and takes into a socket or foot i, made of aluminium or other :
metal, which is attached to the hoop either by screws ³, as represented, by in any.
other convenient way.
The strings k, pass over an ordinary bridge, , and thence to the tail piecej,
consisting of a frame, which may be of an ornamental pattern, under the forward
cross bar, from which the strings pass to a series of small pegs 2, carried on the
tail piece and coming at the ends of longitudinal grooves ³, made to receive.
the coiled ends of the strings, which lie flush therein, whilst their looped ends k²
take over the pegs, thus forming a neat and efficient connection.
This tail piece is adjustably secured to the horizontal web of the pulling down
ring b by a series of three screws, with the two outer screws, passing through
holes, near the sides of the end plate of the tail piece, with heads, bearing
on the top of the said plate and their wormed ends taking into screwed holes,
made to receive them in the ring b, whilst the other and middle adjusting.
screw j³, has its head coming on the underside of the said end plate, and thus forms:
a stop against which the said plate bears when forced down by the screwing home >
of the screws. When the tail piece requires to be raised, the outer clamping.
screws are slacked back to the required extent, and then the adjusting middle screw
is raised by a screw-driver inserted through the hole 10, until its head abuts against":
the underside of the end plate, after which, the whole is made rigid by the
tightening up again of the outer screws 12.
The rotation of the screws for adjusting the vellum ring is effected by a :
screw-driver, and instead of the holes in the step Hange of the hoop being provided
with gun-metal bushes, such bushes may be dispensed with and the holes.:
themselves may be wormed to receive the tail ends of the adjusting screws.
Figure 6 is a cross section of a portion of the body part of an ordinary banjo,
embodying another part of our improvements.

page_text: Figure 7 is an elevation of Figure 6 and Figure 8, a topside plan thereof.
Figure 9 represents one of the screws for pulling down the vellum ring,
separately. Figure 9* is a cross section of a portion of the vellum ring separately.
According to this part of our invention the vellum stretching ring b is made
(at parts) of a section resembling somewhat the figure of a key, and best seen in
Figures 6 and 94, viz., with a semi-circular head b', separated from the lower part
62, by a neck or contraction 3. The top edge of the ring is provided with
equi-distant gaps or sinkings, wherein the upper and hooked ends e¹, of the
tensioning screws e, take and there lie, with the hooks engaging over the necks b³,
and their tops coming perfectly flush with the top surface of the ring, whilst the parts
below the said hooked ends lie flush in vertical grooves or sinkings 6, in the face of
the said ring, and finally the screwed lower ends e², take through separated
brackets or a bracket flange f, (secured to the hoop by screws f, from the inside),
and receive nuts e³, which bear against the uuderside of the brackets or bracket
flange, and by the screwing up of which the pins are caused to draw down the
vellum ring and so tighten the vellum.
Figure 10 represents a cross section of a part of a zither banjo constructed
according to another part of our invention.
Figure 11 is a topside plan of Figure 10.
In constructing a banjo according to this arrangement, an outer circular and
shallow wood case a, is taken and fitted with a series of hanging brackets b. The
vertical web b¹, of each bracket is connected by screws 62, to the inside walls of the
casing, whilst the horizontal web or step part 63, extends inwardly and terminates
by a depending lip 6, wherethrough screws 65, pass for connecting the cast or
other metal hoop, or inner drum c, to the said brackets, whereby the said drum is
secured to the outer casing. Surrounding the upper and outer part of the metal
hoop or body is an L-sectioned vellum tensioning ring d, under which is the vellum
wire e, and through the horizontal part d', of the said ring the shanks f, of headed
tension bolts f, pass, with the screwed lower ends f2, taking into wormed holes 66,
in the horizontal step parts of the separated connecting brackets. The lower edge
of the hoop in order to improve the tone of the instrument and ornainent and
lighten the same, is fashioned into inward scollops or sound holes c, preferably of
a pointed arch-shaped figure, alternating with semi-circular or similar shaped ears
or parts, which are gapped vertically at c², into branches or forks, which form
sockets or seatings wherethrough the screw pins affixing the hoop to the connecting
brackets, pass, so that in order to remove the hoop, it is only necessary to first
slightly slacken these screws and then lift the hoop up vertically.
Figure 12 represents a section and Figure 13 a plan of a modification of this last
part of my invention.
In this arrangement, instead of connecting the inner drum c, to the outer case a,
by means of brackets of the kind described and represented in Figures 10 and 11,
the scolloped lower edge of the former may be provided with outwardly directed
ears or flanges c³, having screwed holes c, into which the lower screwed ends, of
the tensioning pins f, passing through the tensioning ring d, take, and also pass
through the inwardly directed lower flanged ends 63, of the brackets b, which
connect the inner hoop to the outer case. Arch shaped openings c', are saw-pierced
or otherwise formed in the hoop immediately above the flanges c³.
Figures 14 and 15 represent, in section and plan respectively a portion of a
zither banjo embodying another modification of our invention according to which,
the lower edge of the inner metal hoop c, which may either be pierced with sound
holes, or left plain, has an annular horizontal flange c¹, or a series of separate ears,
resting upon a shelf a¹, circumferentially formed around the inside of the outer
casing a, and are secured thereon by screws such as at a². The vellum tensioning
screws e, pass through a flange of, or ears upon, the ring d, and their lower
screwed ends e¹, take into screwed holes c², in the flange or ears of the hoop c.

page_text: 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 :-
First: In a banjo, the combination with a hoop or body part, having an annular
step or flange formed around the same, of a vellum tensioning ring, which is
connected to the said hoop by means of a series of screws passing through plain
holes in the said ring and taking into screwed holes or screwed bushes made or let
within the said hoop; substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly-In the tail pieces of banjos, adjustably connecting the same to the
vellum-tensioning ring of the instrument by a series of adjusting and clamping
screws, with the head or heads of the former coming underneath the attachment
plate, and made accessible by holes above them and the head or heads of the latter
coming on the top of thereof, substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly-In a banjo, providing the metal hoop with an
circumferential flange or horizontal stiffening feather or rib, substantially as
described and set forth.
Fourthly
internal and
In a banjo, the construction represented in figures 6, 7, 8, 9 and 9*
in which the vellum-tensioning ring is drawn down by hook-ended screws, with the
said hooks preferably lying flush within recesses in the said ring, substantially as
described and set forth.
Fifthly In zither banjos, connecting the inner hoop to the outer body by means
of a series of interlocated and separated angle brackets secured to the respective
parts and provided with screwed holes which receive the wormed ends of the
tensioning ring pins, substantially as described and set forth in figures 10, 11, 12
and 13.
Sixthly In zither banjos, scolloping, gapping or piercing the inner hoop, or the
lower edge or lip of the inner hoop, substantially as and for the purpose herein
described and set forth.
Seventhly-In zither banjos, providing the inner hoop with an annular flange or
with separated ears resting upon, and being secured to, a circumferential shelf or
equivalent formed around the inner periphery of the body part, substantially as
described and set forth in figures 14 and 15.
Dated this 12th day of July 1090.
HENRY RILEY,
WILLIAM JOSEPH RILEY,
by Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.