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20 Apr 01 - 01:18 AM (#445125) Subject: Old banjo question, Barnes and Mullins From: mcpiper Hello, can anyone please tell me where I can find out about an old banjo a friend has been given. It is a 5 string, The Barnes and Mullins Perfect, with patent mute. It has six tuning pegs in a slotted head, like a classic guitar, but the fifth string runs in a tunnel, emerging at the fifth fret. Any info. would be much appreciated. mcpiper. |
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20 Apr 01 - 01:36 AM (#445130) Subject: RE: Help: Old banjo question, Barnes and Mullins From: Jon Freeman It is a zither banjo, I'm not sure about the company but I'd guess it was made for them. Try contacting Barnes and Mullins for info - they are still going, the web site is here. Jon |
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20 Apr 01 - 09:58 PM (#445846) Subject: RE: Help: Old banjo question, Barnes and Mullins From: Art Thieme Running the 5th string through a tunnel like that was something done by British banjo makers in the old days. Art Thieme |
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20 Apr 01 - 10:47 PM (#445868) Subject: RE: Help: Old banjo question, Barnes and Mullins From: Jon Freeman OK, I've come up with a little on Barnes and Mullins banjos here and it seem to back what I suspected. A few makers are listed and I can't claim to know anything other than Windsor who are mentioned there were a big maker of zither banjos - just about every one I have seen has been a Windsor. Jon |
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20 Apr 01 - 11:15 PM (#445876) Subject: RE: Help: Old banjo question, Barnes and Mullins From: Jon Freeman I should read more carefully before posting. Although B&M did use other makers to begin with, they did have thier own workshop from around 1900-1965. Their mute patent is 1897. Jon |
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21 Apr 01 - 03:38 AM (#445958) Subject: RE: Help: Old banjo question, Barnes and Mullins From: mcpiper Many thanks for your help guys. I checked out the Barnes and Mullins site, sent them an email, but not much info. Can I ask, what is a zither banjo, how does it differ from other banjos, and also why has is the headstock setup like a classical guitar, slotted and with six tuning pegs, but the tailpiece has will only allow for five. I have photos I can send if this will help. Thanks. |
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21 Apr 01 - 01:15 PM (#446132) Subject: RE: Help: Old banjo question, Barnes and Mullins From: Jon Freeman I've found this: The zither banjo was invented in the 1880s by Alfred Cammeyer from Brooklyn. His design never took of in his native America but when he moved to England, it soon became popular. Cammeyer is supposed to have named it a Zither because the sound reminded him of a zither. A suggestion I have read for the tunning pegs is a simple matter of availibility. Jon |