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American Five-String Fretless Banjo

American History Museum

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    Object Details

    Description

    This banjo was made by an unknown maker in Bristol, Tennessee during the 19th century. It is a Five-String Fretless Banjo. The banjo has a commercial neck cut down and joined to a 4 bracket hoop of welded wrought iron, perhaps salvaged from an iron wagon wheel rim. Although now unplayable, the combination of a small diameter head and heavy rim would have produced a loud and clear tone.

    Location

    Currently not on view

    Credit Line

    Gift of Peck Daniel

    date made

    1800-1899

    ID Number

    MI.66.155

    catalog number

    66.155

    accession number

    263346

    Object Name

    banjo

    Physical Description

    wood (overall material)
    metal (overall material)
    animal skin (overall material)

    Measurements

    overall: 28 1/2 in x 6 1/2 in x 2 in; 72.39 cm x 16.51 cm x 5.08 cm

    place made

    United States: Tennessee, Bristol

    See more items in

    Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments
    Music & Musical Instruments
    Banjos

    Data Source

    National Museum of American History

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ae-507e-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

    Record ID

    nmah_605682

    Discover More

    Five-Stringed Banjo

    Visual Art Featuring Banjos

    Five-Stringed Banjo

    Instruments

    Playing the Banjo

    Five-Stringed Banjo

    Banjos

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