Classic-Banjo
Questions about a zyther/banjo
Hi everyone, first a big THANK YOU to this website host for approving my request to becomd a member.
Recently, I bought this zyther/banjo from an estate sale. It is alleged to be from 1900. I do not know the maker and is in a desperate need of repair that I am willing to do. It previous owner did a bad job on it. I would love to share pictures of it before I took it apart and afterwards.
If anyone could help me to upload these picture I would deeply appreciated.
Richard William Ineson
The sticker on the back of the peg head brought back some memories for me. The Michael Davis organisation used to collect and pack all manner of items purchased by American antique dealers and collectors all over the UK, and ship them to the USA for them in the 1970s. I used to buy all kinds of things for them - they used to send a shopping list to anybody who was willing to get things together for them in quantity, wash stands, washboards, jugs and bowls, wooden candlesticks, wooden biscuit barrels, wooden bread boards etc. all things which were old and plentiful. This banjo must have been part of one of their shipments.
Aug 21, 2023
Richard William Ineson
My wife complains that I never throw anything away, I just found this Michael Davis calendar from 1977. I can't remember them asking me to find any banjos for them in those days.
Aug 25, 2023
Jake Glanville
Dear Jaime,
Just wondered how you got on with the zither-banjo you posted in August of last year?
It seems to have suffered a certain amount of bodging in the past, which is of course a great pity.
I've seen several zither-banjos with the same design on the back, and all by different makers, which makes it difficult to identify who made yours but my guess is that it's a Dulcet. These were made by Barnett, Samuel & Sons in England.
By now you've probably received the answers to all your questions, but just in case you haven't allow me my ten penny worth.
WD-40 (I assume it or an equivalent is available in the USA) is excellent for any rusty parts. Or you could try tomato ketchup! It does work.
Broken parts cannot be replaced new, but there are plenty of second hand spares in the UK (which is of course the home of the ZB). Just put out an appeal on this site. The nickel or chrome plated tuners can be fairly easily repaired if you're a dab hand with the soldering iron and you've found some old tuning keys somewhere (plenty over here). If you need any help contact me on this site.
By the way, it isn't true that all ZB's had a mixture of steel and gut strings, or that this is the 'proper' way to have them strung. That was a myth put out by Essex and Cammeyer around the end of the 19th century!
Best wishes,
BJ.
Apr 22, 2024