US370172A - Banjo - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

W. R. W001).

BANJO,

No. 370,172 Patented Sept. 20, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALLACE R. WOOD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BAN

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 370,172, dated September 20, 1887.

Application filed December 52, 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WALLACE R. \VOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohieago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Banjos, of which the following is a specification, to wit:

My invention is designed to increase the efficiency and enlarge the action of the banjo as a musical instrument by use of a combination of attachments or devices whereby the key or pitch of the instrument is readily and effectually changed, as may be desired.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a banjo in perspective with the devices attached. Fig. 2 is a side view of a section of the fingerboard above the key of the thumbspring with one of the devices the capodast-ro A,with the movable fret e-attached thereto. Fig. 3 is a side view of the eapodastro detached from the finger-board. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a section of the finger-board and thumb-string near the key of the thumb-string, with the rest I) at tached, which device is used in combination with the capodastro.

The same letters in different figures represent the same parts.

First. My invention consists of a capodastro of peculiar construction, in combination with a movable fret, e, which are constructed as follows, to wit: The capodastro is made of metal, brass being preferable, and consists of a top piece, '13, cast hollow at one end, with the other end formed into a hook to fit one side of the finger-board. The other side of the finger-board is clasped by a bent arm, g, finished to fit in the hollow of z, and ad justable by means of the set-screw d. Another set-screw, 0, holds the capodastro firmly on the finger-board when in position. Lugs 75 7c are cast on the piece i, with holes, through which are passed the bent ends of the fret c. This fret, which may be made of ordinary wire, moves freely in the lugs la 70, and can be slipped out, so as to pass under the fingerstrings, and then be again connected with the lugs before the capodastro is pressed down and fastened to the fingerboard. A piece of Serial No. 184,518. (No model.)

leather, cork, or other soft substance lines the under side of the piece 2', to protect the fingerstrings from abrasion. It is obvious that the fret may be attached to the capodastro in other ways without material change, as by a hinge on one of the lugs k and bya hook on the other.

Second. My invention also consists of a movable rest or nut, b, for holding the thumbstring, constructed substantially as follows: It may be made of metal, hard rubber, or any other suitable material,with a base which is dovetailed into the socket a, and an upright piece, I), standing a little higher than the thumb-string, with a hole, a, drilled through large enough to admit the thumbstring and slightly diagonal with the course of that string. A socket, a, is insertedin the side at the top of the finger-board at different places, as desired, to receive and hold the rest or nut Z).

Third. My invention also consists of the combination of a movable fret, 6, with a capodastro, A; of the combination of a movable rest or nut, b, with a capodastro on a banjo, constructed and used substantially as described.

It is obvious that the rest or nut b may be somewhat differently constructed or attached to the banjo without change of the principle involved, and that a capodastro of different construction may be used both in combination with the fret e and the rest b, and therefore, so far as my inventions of combinations are concerned, I do not rest them upon the peculiar construction of any one or all the different parts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An adjustable capodastroarrangcd to tightly-clasp the finger-board of a banjo at any place, consisting of the top piece, 11, the bent arm 9, fitting in the top piece, and the set-screws c and (Z, constructed substantially as described.

2. In a banjo, the movable rest or nut b for the thumb-string, constructed to operate sub stantially as described.

3. In a banjo, the combination of the movable fret 6 with it capodastro, substantially as described.

4;. In a banjo, the combination of the movable rest 01' nnt b with the thumb-string, constructed and operating substantially as described.

5. In a banjo, the combination of the thumbstring and the movable rest or nut Z), and the capodastro, and the movable fret e, snbstztn- 1o tially as described.

XVALLACE It. XVOOD. lVitnesses:

GEORGE SooVILLE,

WASHINGToN L. SCOVILLE,

WM. F. ADAIR.

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