Help: Old banjo question, Barnes and Mullins

Subject: Old banjo question, Barnes and Mullins
From: mcpiper
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 01:18 AM

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.

Subject: RE: Help: Old banjo question, Barnes and Mullins
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 01:36 AM

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

Subject: RE: Help: Old banjo question, Barnes and Mullins
From: Art Thieme
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 09:58 PM

Running the 5th string through a tunnel like that was something done by British banjo makers in the old days.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Help: Old banjo question, Barnes and Mullins
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 10:47 PM

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

Subject: RE: Help: Old banjo question, Barnes and Mullins
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 11:15 PM

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

Subject: RE: Help: Old banjo question, Barnes and Mullins
From: mcpiper
Date: 21 Apr 01 - 03:38 AM

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.

Subject: RE: Help: Old banjo question, Barnes and Mullins
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 21 Apr 01 - 01:15 PM

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