US911484A

US911484A - Banjo.

Info

Publication number: US911484A
Application number: US44992308A
Authority: US
Inventors: Irvin Fillman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1908-08-24
Filing date: 1908-08-24
Publication date: 1909-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 1926-02-02

Description

I. PILLMAN. BANJO. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 190e.

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

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IRVIN FILLMAN, OF *WAURIKA OKLAHOMA.

BANJO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

Application led August 24, 1908. Serial No. 449,923.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, lnvrN FILLMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at W aurika, in the county or" Jefferson and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Banjos, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in stringed musical instruments and more particularly those of the banjo type.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved string peg and means for mounting the same in the neck of a banjo or the like.

W ith the above and other obj ects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view ci the improved musical instrument; Fig. 2 is a side or edge view oi the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-8 in Fig. 2; Fig. d is an enlarged side viewof the parts shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the key and the adjusting peg or plug; Fig. 6 is a detail transverse section taken on the line 6-6 in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the peg or plug; and Fig. 8 is a detail view of a portion oir' the rim of the banjo head showing a spring for retaining the key within the head.

The improved instrument comprises a head 1 similar to a banjo head and a neck 2 similiar to a guitar neck. The head l is of the usual form and construction, consisting of a metal ring 3 covered with gut 4 which is secured by tension vclamps 5. Arranged upon the neck 2 are the usual six strings 6 of a guitar and in addition a short string 7 similar to the short 'fifth string of a banjo. The strings 6 and 7 are attached to the usual tail piece 8 upon the head and the strings 6 have their opposite ends attached to the usual keys 9 upon the neck 2. The other end of the string 7 is passed through an aperture 10 in an adjusting peg or plug 11, which has a cylindrical outer portion 12 upon which the string 7 is wound and an inner tapered or cone-shaped portion 13 which fits and is rictionally retained in a similar shaped socket 14 formed in one side of the neck 2 at the outer extremity of an enlarged or thickened portion 15 of said neck. The outer extremity of the plug 11 has a reduced squared stem 16 in two of the opposite faces of which are formed transverse notches or fr grooves 16a, the bottoms of which are angularly disposed so as to provide stop shoulders 16b on said stem. This stem is adapted to enter an elongated rectangular socket 17 a in the end oi' a removable key 17 which is used for tightening and loosening the peg and also for removing the same. rl`he engagement of the squared stem 16 with the ilat faces of the rectangular socket 17a will cause the stem to rotate with the key .e

when the latter is turned so that the peg may be rotated to tighten or loosen the string 7.

In order to enable the key to be used for removing the peg the cavity 17b in the key in rear of said socket 17a is slightly enlarged to provide a shoulder 17C. By turning the key in the pro `er direction after the latter has been forcer inwardly upon the peg, the shoulder 17 C will be caused to engage with the shoulders 161D so that when the key is pulled outwardly the peg will be drawn outwardly with it. The peg 11 lies beneath the plane of the upper surface of the neck 2 and to reduce Jfriction and wear upon the string 7 the latter passes through a passage 18 formed in the outer extremity of the enlarged portion 15 oi the neck, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The outer extremity oi the peg 11 lies beneath the outer edge or side of said enlarged portion 15 of the neck and in order to prevent said plug 'from interfering with the Jfree movement of the players hand along` the edge of the neck a guard plate 19 is provided and arranged over said plug, as shown. Said guard 19 is in the form of a metal strip having one end set in and secured at 20 to the enlarged portion 15 of the neck and its other end set in and secured at 21 to the reduced or outer portion of said neck. The intermediate ortion olf the guard plate or strip is curvedilongitudinally over the peg 1l and at a suitable point in it is formed an opening 22 which registers with the stem 16 or' the peg and is adapted to receive the key 17. A slot 23 is also formed in the stri J in communication with the o ening 22 so t at the peg with the wire may ce placed in position in the neck and removed therefrom. This guard plate being constructed and arranged as shown, will provide a bridge over the projecting outer end of the peg so that the latter 'vi/fili not` interfere With the free sliding movement of the players hand along the neck of the. instrument in laying the latter. In order to prevent the ey fronrbeing lost when it is notl in use I preferably provide ineans for sup orting it upon the inner face of the rirn of t e banjo head. This supporting means is shovvn in Fig. 8 as in the form 'or' a small leaf-spring secured at one of its ends and having its curved free end bearing against the rim of the head. The free end of the spring may be readily slipped through the opening in the linger piece or' the key so that the latter Will be retained in the banjo head by the spring7 as shown in dotted lines in Fie. '8. Y

IIaving thus described the invention what is claimed is:

l. A stringed musical instrument coinprising a head, a neck having an enlarged poi-tion on oneV side, a plurality of long strings and a short string7 a4 peg for the short string arranged at the outer extremity of the enlarged portion of the neck and having means at its outer end for the reception or' a removable key and a curved guard arranged upon the side of the neck and disposed over said key. Y Y I 2.K stringed musical instrument cornprising a head, a neck having an enlarged portion on one side, a plurality of long strings and a short string, a peg for the short stringv arranged at the outer ezxtreinity of the' enlarged portion of the neck and having means at its outer end 'for thereception of a removable key, and a longitudinally curved guard plate disposed over the outer end of the key and having its ends set in and iiushwith the edge of the neck, said plate having an opening disposed op osite the outer end of the peg, substanta y as described. l

3. A stringed musical instrument cornprising a head, a neck having an enlarged portion on one side and a socket, a plurality of long strings and a short string, a peg for the short string arranged in said socket and having a reduced Hat faced stern provided in one face With a transverse groove Yto form a shoulder, a guard arranged upon the side of the neck and disposed over said peg, said guard being formed with an opening disposed opposite the outer end or" the peg, and a key having a flat 'faced socket portion to receive the stein of the peg whereby the M latter may be rotated, said key also having a shoulder to engage the shoulder upon the stem whereby the peg may be Withdrawn from the neck. y l Y y In testimony whereof I hereunto 'affix my signature Yin the presence of tivo Witnesses.

.7 IRVIN FILLMAN. Witnesses: Y

HAYs DLLAD, IRA JENITO.