Hello there Joel...well I'm just about thru all sections of the Banjo Dance...thankyou again for the idea...have a musical Christmas...regards Paul Painter
Many thanks for your comment which I much appreciate. It is certainly worthy of reply. You are absolutely right about A D Cammeyer not arriving in England until 1888. However, you seem to be under the common misconception that it was he who 'invented' the zither-banjo (ZB henceforth) and if so, it's time that particular myth was laid to rest once and for all.
Here's the story of the 'Engish' ZB as I know it. I've put 'English' in quotes because it certainly owes its inspiration to an American. But it wasn't Cammeyer. It was one of the Dobson Bros. (I've forgotten which one) One of them was in England in 1868 or 9, bringing with him, his, or his brother's, closed-back top-tensioned banjo. The English reacted as if they'd discovered the Holy Grail and set about copying it with unholy zeal, whilst adding at the same time, a number of refinements.
And one of of these who undoubtedly was looking for an alternative to American style open-backs. was the London instrument maker William Temlett Senior. In 1869 he patented his own version of the Dobson. And this was known from the start as a 'zither' banjo. Temlett never, ever, claimed to have invented it, please note. He called himself a 'pioneer' of the zither-banjo. which would seem to suggest that the concept was already well established by the time Temlett patented it. Haven't the time or space to go into details about why the ZB was so named, or the differences between ZB's and 'ordinary' American style open-backs, but you can certainly forget all that nonsense about tunneled 5th strings and 6-tuning machines being the crucial indicators.
Cammeyer had nowt to do with it, he was only 8 years old! And child prodigy though he was I believe the violin was his main interest then.
I really must agree with you Joel, regarding Classic Banjo and Classic Guitar. They are different instruments and each has its merits and it is ludicrous to make comparisions. Why would anyone waste time arguing. There is a surge of interest in the banjo at the moment, and I for one am very glad to see it. I can remember a time when Pete Seeger was worried that the 5-string would die out. Seems unbelievable now.
Paul Painter
Hello there Joel...well I'm just about thru all sections of the Banjo Dance...thankyou again for the idea...have a musical Christmas...regards Paul Painter
Dec 24, 2018
Jake Glanville
Dear Joel,
Many thanks for your comment which I much appreciate. It is certainly worthy of reply. You are absolutely right about A D Cammeyer not arriving in England until 1888. However, you seem to be under the common misconception that it was he who 'invented' the zither-banjo (ZB henceforth) and if so, it's time that particular myth was laid to rest once and for all.
Here's the story of the 'Engish' ZB as I know it. I've put 'English' in quotes because it certainly owes its inspiration to an American. But it wasn't Cammeyer. It was one of the Dobson Bros. (I've forgotten which one) One of them was in England in 1868 or 9, bringing with him, his, or his brother's, closed-back top-tensioned banjo. The English reacted as if they'd discovered the Holy Grail and set about copying it with unholy zeal, whilst adding at the same time, a number of refinements.
And one of of these who undoubtedly was looking for an alternative to American style open-backs. was the London instrument maker William Temlett Senior. In 1869 he patented his own version of the Dobson. And this was known from the start as a 'zither' banjo. Temlett never, ever, claimed to have invented it, please note. He called himself a 'pioneer' of the zither-banjo. which would seem to suggest that the concept was already well established by the time Temlett patented it. Haven't the time or space to go into details about why the ZB was so named, or the differences between ZB's and 'ordinary' American style open-backs, but you can certainly forget all that nonsense about tunneled 5th strings and 6-tuning machines being the crucial indicators.
Cammeyer had nowt to do with it, he was only 8 years old! And child prodigy though he was I believe the violin was his main interest then.
By the way, you make excellent banjo bridges!
All the Best,
Jake.
Nov 27, 2023
Jake Glanville
I really must agree with you Joel, regarding Classic Banjo and Classic Guitar. They are different instruments and each has its merits and it is ludicrous to make comparisions. Why would anyone waste time arguing. There is a surge of interest in the banjo at the moment, and I for one am very glad to see it. I can remember a time when Pete Seeger was worried that the 5-string would die out. Seems unbelievable now.
All the Best.
Black jake of Norwich, England.
Sep 12