US1723818A - Banjo - Google Patents

Description

Aug- 6, 1929- E. A. sTnTHoPoULo 1,723,818

BANJO liled Jan. 24. 1925 Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES EPAMINONDAS A. STATHOPOULO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BANJO.

Application led January This intention relates to musical instruments and pertains more particularly to stringed instruments of the banjo type.

lit is an object oi' this invention to provide an instrument which will produce an improved tone quality. It is a further object ot the invention to provide an instrument which shall be strong` and durable and yet sin-:ple in construction.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

A prelerred embodiment ot the invention selected ttor purposes ot illustration is shown in the accom panving drawings7 in which,

Figure. 1 is a top plan View ot a banjo part ol the head being broken away to better illustrate the construction of certain parts,

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 oli` Fig- Y rring to the drawings, the main frame 1 oit the instrument con'iprises an annular rim which is preferably built up as shown in the drawings oit a ser is of strips or laminations 2 glued or otherwise 'fastened together in the usual manner. Resting on the upper edge of the main trame 1 is an annular metal ring 3 which may be referred to as the tone chamber casting. This casting which forms one wall oilE the tone chamber 4 Vis provided with a series of radial openings 5 which permit iree passage to and from the tone chamber of the sound waves created when the instrument is played. Between the openings 5 are provided a series of shoulders 6 on which the annular ring T is adapted to rest.

tourroundine the upper portion of the main frame 1 and preferably replacing the upper portion of the outer lamination 2 thereof is a metal band 8 which projects upwardly above the upper edge ot the main trame as illustrated to form the outer wall of the tone chamber f1. Radial projections 9 formed in the casting 3 project outwardly to contact with the metal band 8 for a purpose hereinafter described. Immediately below the lower edge of the metal band 8 and Contactin therewith for a purpose hereinafter explained is a bracket band l() ot metal surrounding the main frame and preferably inset` as shown, into the body ot the main frame as by cutting away a portion of the outer laminations.

The head 11 is mounted over the annular ring T and the upper edge of the metal band S and the edges thereof are fastened in the usual 24, 1925. serial No. 4,360.

manner to the flesh hoop 12 above which is mounted the usual straining hoop 13. The usual hooks 14 are provided to stretch the head, these hooks passing through suitable openings in the bracket band 10.

A tone reflector is provided at the back oit the instrument comprising a shallow concave back 15 and a rim 16. The upper side of the rim 16 is groored to form a shoulder 17 into which the outer edge ot the bracket band 10 is adapted to seat. The tone reflector may be conwfnienlly attached to the instruniient by mains oi: bolts 18 which pass upwardlj7 through the openings 19 formed in the bracket band and having on their outer ends thumb screws Q0.

Then the instrument is played as by causing vibration ot the strings 21, corresponding vila-ations are set up in the head 11 which, transmi tte-1l to the outer air, provide the characteristic banjo tone. It has been found a ditlicult problem to provide a banjo which will produce a sweet and mellow tone without the undesirable c"tinny'" quality trequently observed and still provide suicient body or tone Volume so that thel instrument can be heard when played in conjunction with other instruments as in an orchestra.

In the present embodiment the provision oit' the metal band 8 contacting directly with the head and also contacting directly at its other end with the bracket band 10, which, in turn supports the tone reflector, has been lound to solve this problem satisfactorily for the instrument produces a tone possessing body, or that penetratire quality which causes it to heard when played with other instruments; yet the undesirable tinny7 quality is lacking. l

The tone reflector i5, as its name implies, retiects the sound waves produced by the head outwardly through the openings 19 in the bracket band. These sound wares may either be produced by the main portion of the head 11 or by that portion covering tone chamber The vibrations so produced are transmitted through the ring 7 to the casting 3 and thence through radial projections 9 to the metal band 8 and thence through the bracket band 10 to the tone reflector which serres to amplify and transmit them to the outer air. In addition vibrations pass directly from the portion ot the head covering the tone chamber 4 to the metal band S and thence as before to the tone reliector. It Will be observed that in each case a direct metallic connection is provided through Which vibrations may be transmitted from the head` to the tone reflector. These vibrations so transmitted are modified by the Wooden rim which also transmits some oitx the vibrations to such extent that the tinny quality ordinarily associated With all metal banjos is lacking, but at the same time the tone produced has adequate body.

rilhe sum total otl the sound Waves and vibrations thus produced creates" the composite Wave which is transmitted to the ear.

It is to be understood that the invention may be variously modified and embodied Within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as iny invention:

l. In a banjo having the usual head and strings, in combination, a Wooden main frame, a tone reiiector, and means including a metal band of substantial thickness surroundinG' the main 'trame providing a direct metallic connection between the head and tone reflector for the transn ission et sound vibrations.

2. In a banjo having the usual head and strings, in combination, a. Wooden main frame, a tone reflector, and means including a metal band of substantial thickness surrounding` the main trame, and a metal bracket band also surrounding` said traine, said bands having abutting Surfaces, providing a continuous metallic connect-ion between the head and tone reflector for the transmission of sound vibrations.

3. In a banjo having the usual head and strings, in combination, a Wooden `main frame, a metal band surrounding the main frame, an annular metallic ring seated on 40 said main frame, said ring being provided With radial projections contacting With said metall band, a metal bracket band also surrounding' said main Jtrarne, a tone reflector, and means to secure said tone reflector to said bracket band, said metal'band, annular metallic ring and metallic bracket band providing a continuous metallic connect-ion between the head and tone reflector;

4. in a banjo having the usual head, strain4 50 ing hooks and strings, in combination, a main frame, a straining hook carried thereby, a metallic bracket band surrounding said frame, said hoop being engaged by one end of said straining hooks and said band providingl an anchoring means for the other end of said straining hooks.

5. ln a. banjo having` the usual head, straining hooks and strings, in combination,

a main iframe, a metallic bracket band surrounding said frame, said band providing an anchoring means for said straining hooks, a tone reilector, and means for securing said ltone reiector to said bracket band, said bracket band being provided with sound openings.

6. In a banjo having the usual head, straining hooks and strings, in combination, a main frame having a groove therein, a metallic bracket band surrounding said frame and 7D positioned in said groove, said band providing an anchoring means for said straining hooks.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this speciiication this 22nd day of 75 January, 1925.

EPAMINONDAS A. STATHOPOULO.

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