1861 H.C. Dobson

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H. C. Dobson Banjos

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For all things related to banjos by Henry C. Dobson.

113 Members, Created 11/28/2011 -

Administrators: jbalch (owner)

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From Larry Smith on 8/8/2012 6:05:06 AM

Report to Moderator 8/7/2012 12:24 PM

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 magnifying 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. There are photos of this banjo on my profile page

thanks

2 Comments
	W L D says: 11/3/2013 8:35:51 AM Interesting. Can you maybe put up a few pics. Thanks
	W L D says: 11/4/2013 6:47:57 AM OK Larr I think I found them on your profile page.
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