An Improvement in Banjos.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1895-Accepted, 15th June, 1895
An Improvement in Banjos.
I, CHARLES ARTHUR WALPOLE DRURY, of 3, Gloucester Row, Clifton,
Bristol, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention, which relates to banjos, consists in the provision, at the back of
the usual parchment cover, of a tubular ring of brass or other suitable metal.
The said ring extends around the sides of the frame and is held in place by springs,
or clips or by any convenient means. The parchment cover bears partially on the
ring over which it is strained. The ring is slotted on the inner face either
continuously or at intervals. It fulfils the function of a sounding board, increasing
and swelling the volume of sound given off from the strings and reducing harshness
or twang. The character of the sound and tone varies with, among other things,
the diameter, shape and configuration of the tubular ring and the thickness of
metal.
The tubular slotted or pierced ring may be round, oval, elliptical or of other
suitable cross section.
According to a modification, the slotted tubular ring constitutes the frame below
the parchment cover, and the pulls by which the latter is strained are carried
by it.
Dated this 17th day of August 1894.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.
An Improvement
Darjes.
I, CHARLES ARTHUR WALPOLE DRURY, of 3, Gloucester Row, Clifton
Bristol, Gentleman, 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, which relates to banjos, consists in the provision, at the back of
the usual parchment cover, of a tubular ring, of brass or other suitable metal,
slotted on the inner face. Under one arrangement the said ring extends around
the frame on the inside thereof and is held in place by clips or other suitable
devices; or the ring may be secured to the frame by soldering or brazing.
In the Provisional Specification left with my application for Letters Patent to
this invention it is stated that the tubular ring need not have a continuous slot,
but may be slotted at intervals. I find however that a continuous slot or slit
gives the best results and I prefer to adopt it.
The ring fulfils the functions of a sounding board increasing and swelling by
its vibration the volume of sound given out from the strings. Harshness and
twang in tone are reduced. The character and quality imparted to the sound and
tone vary with, among other things, the dimensions, shape and configuration of the
tubular slotted ring and the thickness of the metal, preferably brass, of which it
is composed.

page_text: According to a modification the slotted tubular ring is used without a separate
frame and serves the double purpose of a frame and a sounding board.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings Fig. 1 represents
in vertical section so much of a banjo constructed in accordance with one
arrangement comprised in this invention as serves to illustrate the said
invention.
Attached to the frame a by soldering, brazing or other suitable means is a
tubular split ring extending all round the frame. The tubular ring b has at its
inner face an aperture c extending throughout the whole length of the ring.
This aperture need not be central in the inner face of the ring but may be in any
other suitable plane in the circumference of the ring.
The usual parchment cover d is held in place in the ordinary manner and is
strained by the usual " pulls e, straining band f and hoop g. The tubular
split ring 6 fulfils the function of a sounding board, swelling and increasing through
its vibration the volume of the sound emitted from the strings by the player. The
ring may vary in shape. It may be circular in cross section, oval, elliptical or of
other shape.
At Fig. 2 is illustrated a modification according to which a separate frame is
dispensed with; the tubular split ring b serving the double purpose of a frame and
a sounding board. The pulls e for straining the parchment cover d are carried by
a band over which the outer ends of the ring b are folded. The pulls may be
otherwise carried.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
In a banjo, a tubular ring of brass or other metal suitable for the purpose placed
horizontally below and in contact with the usual parchment cover and having in
its circumference a slot or aperture extending in the tubular ring throughout its
length; the said ring either being attached to or otherwise carried by the usual
frame, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 of the
accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings and for the purposes specified; or
according to the modification herein before described with reference to Fig. 2 of
the drawings under which a separate frame is dispensed with and the tubular
slotted ring serves the double purpose of a frame and sounding board.
Dated this 13th day of May 1895.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.