Scan 202
Catalogue of the Stearns collection of musical instruments, 1921
30 lines. Read by computer on 22 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 174. See the scan on archive.org.
11137. BANJO ……………………………………… England
2Wooden hoop. Parchment head tightened by screw braces. Marquetry head and finger-board. No frets. Six gut and over-spun silk strings, the sixth being the chanterelle (Fr. Corde d'un violon, specifically the E string of the violin).
3It will be noticed that the typical banjo body resembles the Tambourine, minus the "jingles."
4Length, 92 cm.; width, 30 cm.; depth, 7 cm.
61138. BANJO ……………………………………… United States
7Black wooden hoop, surrounded by a second of German silver. An open-work plate of the same material covers the parchment head.
8Usual stringing. Seventeen frets.
9Length, 92 cm.; width, 33 cm.; depth, 6.5 cm.
111139. ZITHER-BANJO ……………………………… England
12Wooden hoop. Parchment head tightened by screws. These are enclosed in a shell of ebonized wood. Usual stringing. Nineteen frets.
13Length, 81 cm.; diameter of head, 24 cm.; of shell, 28 cm.; depth, 8.5 cm.
151139A. BANJORINE. Five strings. Eighteen frets …….. United States
16This form differs from the ordinary banjo only in that it has a shorter neck.
17Length, 69 cm.; of neck, 38 cm.; diameter, 31 cm.; depth, 5 cm.
18(Albert A. Stanley.)
201139B. MANDOLIN-BANJO. Four pairs of strings. Usual frets. United States
21Frequently and erroneously called by the name of the preceding instrument, this type, like the many hybrids of the day, enjoys a great vogue. It is tuned in fifths like the violin—g, d', a', e''.
22Length, 56.6 cm.; of neck, 30.9 cm.; diameter, 25.7 cm.; depth, 6.4 cm.
23(Allmendinger Music Shop.)
24(no line here) one of two readings
26The banjo body has been utilized in many instruments quite unlike it in every respect. No. 2292 in the Crosby Brown Collection is a violin; No. 1073 in the Paris Collection (Conservatoire) is an instrument in size and stringing resembling a double-bass, while No. 1010, Case IX, Stearns Collection, is a harp with a typical banjo body.
281140-1141. MONOCHORDS. Native name unknown …………. India
29The oval bodies of cocoanut-shells are polished. Each carries a belly of wood with F-holes. The second specimen is somewhat the larger. Respective lengths, 63, 69.5 cm.; widths, 15, 10 cm.; depths, 5.5 to 6 cm.
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.