hidehead - Posted - 08/07/2012:  10:24:07

I need some info on this H.C. Dobson.  I have owned this banjo for several years but have never seen another like it.  I have shown it to other collectors who have likewise never seen another one.  It's an inverted bracket design.  The head goes inside the rim and then the spanner band goes inside.  The shoes slide into a tapered dovetail bracket and the tension lugs which are much like top tension lugs are tightened against brass inserts on the spanner band. 

One day while looking at all the parts with a bright light and magnifier I noticed there was writing on the inside of the spanner band but I couldn't quite make out what it said.  I very lightly dampened the wood with a pump mister and used a black light and stronger magnifing glass.  To my surprise written in quill and ink was this:  "H.C. Dobson NY  patent passed to be issued May 6 1861"

I know H.C. filed several banjo patents and I have found several online in my 10 years of snooping around, but this one for an inverted tension bracket system I can't find since there are no patent numbers written on the spanner band.  Could this be a design that was abandoned by H.C. before an actual patent was granted?

This banjo is made of black walnut with a Brazilian fingerboard veneer and I have all the parts and pieces except for 1 bracket, 1 shoe and 1 tension lug and the tailpiece is also missing.

Any help with this puzzle would be much appreciated.

h

Edited by - hidehead on 08/07/2012 10:25:44

mbanza - Posted - 08/07/2012:  10:35:19

Great chunk of banjo history you've got there.

Nearest H. C. Dobson Patent listed in Adler, Thomas 1972, "Physical Development of the Banjo", J. American Folklore 28(5);187-208 is Patent number 66,810 issued 1867.  Next H. C. Dobson patent is 136,491 issued 04 Mar 1873.  Hope this helps.

Edited by - mbanza on 08/07/2012 10:42:57

hidehead - Posted - 08/12/2012:  06:31:21

Thanks for the off-thread responses.  I have gotten a few emails from some experts and historians who specialize in 19th century banjos.  None of them have seen a signed Dobson this early, or with this particular tensioning design.  One theory is that it may be a missing link of sorts in banjo evolution.  It has features and the appearance of the minstrel era banjos 1830-1860, but with the ability to tension the head with the internal tensioning mechanism. 

Since the patent was passed in 1861 but never applied could be because war broke out and the use of that much brass was just not possible and foundries and machinists were busy with war time manufacturing. 

I intend to restore this instrument to original playing condition.  Does anyone know of a machinist who could remanufacture the 3 brass pieces seen in the 4th photo (tapered dovetail bracket and shoe and tension lug)?

h

Brooklynbanjoboy - Posted - 08/12/2012:  06:37:12

Regarding your metal parts, Contact Bill Rickard:

rickardbanjos.com/site/

Andy FitzGibbon - Posted - 08/12/2012:  08:31:15

The design looks somewhat similar to Tilton's patent banjos.

Andy

hidehead - Posted - 08/13/2012:  07:06:06

Thanks for the input guys!  I checked out Bill Rickards website, he makes some nice parts.  I talked to a friend of mine who is a gunsmith and specializes in restoring antique firearms.  He said he could mill out exact copies of my missing parts.

Andy, This Dobson is similar to the Tilton patent banjo, but the tensioning hardware is different.

I plan on posting in progress photos of this rebuild and a video of the completed banjo....stay tuned!

h 

Montanarick - Posted - 08/13/2012:  09:17:23

I just bought a Geo Dobson Victor Professional from frianm and I'm excited for it to arrive. It's going to be a major restoration project and I can't wait to get my hands on it. It will be my first vintage banjo. One of the parts missing is the original tailpiece and I've sent Bill Rickard an email to see if he can frabricate such a part. It's going to be a fun project....and I wish that banjo could talk....all the places it's been! Most likely built in the decade my grandfather was born....1890's.....Regards, Rick

Seeders - Posted - 08/29/2012:  20:21:50

quote:

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Originally posted by Andy FitzGibbon

The design looks somewhat similar to Tilton's patent banjos.

Andy

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It does look incredibly similar to my Tilton banjo. The neck heel and pot veneer look almost identical.

There are more pictures of it on my page if you're interested.

Edited by - Seeders on 08/29/2012 20:22:17

C. Bruno & Son 1866 Tilton Improvement