Banjo.
1
Photo by Dominic Ibbotson © The University of Edinburgh
InstrumentBanjo |
Instrument FamilyStrings |
MakerWindsor |
Place MadeEurope; England; Birmingham; United Kingdom |
Date MadeProbably 1st half of the 20th century |
DescriptionTechnical description: Calfskin membrane. Metal tension hoop and points. Bridge of walnut. Kidney shaped brass string holder, the strings pass under the holder and attach on knobs at the bottom. Brass string mute between the string holder and the bridge. Black-painted maple sides and back, the back domed with a brass button in the centre. Mahogany heel, V-shaped neck and head, all of one piece, smoothly flowing into each other. Ebonised head and fingerboard. 6 brass tuners with plastic imitation ivory knobs on head, 3 on each side. Imitation ivory nut. Fifth string has raised button just in front of fifth fret, then goes under fingerboard to tuner on head. One tuner not used. Mother-of-pearl dot markers on fingerboard, one at frets 3, 5, 10, 14, and two at frets 7, 12, and 17. 22 frets in total. Neck width 33.0mm at nut, 49.5mm at body. Screwed in iron rings act as strap holders at the bottom of the instrument, and on the bass side of the neck near the body. Repair History: The bridge is a replacement. Overall size: 878 Body diameter: 208 (membrane) 275 (body) Body depth: 60 Number of tension points: 12 String length: 651 Plate on the back of the heel reads "THE / NEW WINDSOR / PATENT ZITHER BANJO / A.O. WINDSOR / MAKER / 94 NEWHALL ST / BIRMINGHAM / ENGLAND". Scratched on the back of the head is "AT/-". |
NotesA. Macaulay, January 1992; D.P. Martin, 2003. |
Measurements878.Body diameter: 208 (membrane), 275 (body). |
ProvenanceGift of C. Lee. |
CollectionMIMEd |
Accession Number0275 |