I once had a Ludwig banjo with a set of 6 small lightbulbs of different colors mounted on the perch pole. The banjo seemed to be from the 1920s and so was the wiring. Plugging it in was very exciting. Not only did it tighten a humidity-soaked vellum, and brighten the view from the front of the banjo as these bulbs flashed on and off —possibly by design, but maybe not — and the wires, partially stripped of their ancient insulation sputtered and gave off emissions of smoke and fire from time to time.
It was Tighten, Brighten, and Frighten.
Perhaps that was the name of the Chicago law firm that represented Ludwig in court cases arising from lawsuits due to banjo combustion?
Mike Redman said:
Possibly a light bulb mounted on the perch pole to heat the velum up giving the instrument a 'brighter' tone?
The wire goes to light bulbs that tighten the head. All of his later flush frets were equipped with them and a heat shield made from an aluminum 78 recording blank.
Clive hughes said:
Blow the picture up look at his trouser pocket what appears to be a wire is in fact a shadow .Is that his wallet sticking out.
Jody Stecher
I once had a Ludwig banjo with a set of 6 small lightbulbs of different colors mounted on the perch pole. The banjo seemed to be from the 1920s and so was the wiring. Plugging it in was very exciting. Not only did it tighten a humidity-soaked vellum, and brighten the view from the front of the banjo as these bulbs flashed on and off —possibly by design, but maybe not — and the wires, partially stripped of their ancient insulation sputtered and gave off emissions of smoke and fire from time to time.
It was Tighten, Brighten, and Frighten.
Perhaps that was the name of the Chicago law firm that represented Ludwig in court cases arising from lawsuits due to banjo combustion?
Mike Redman said:
Apr 21, 2013
Clive hughes
Blow the picture up look at his trouser pocket what appears to be a wire is in fact a shadow .Is that his wallet sticking out.
Jan 11
Joel Hooks
The wire goes to light bulbs that tighten the head. All of his later flush frets were equipped with them and a heat shield made from an aluminum 78 recording blank.
Clive hughes said:
Jan 11