Object Details
maker
Teed, George
Description
This banjo was made by George Teed of New York, New York around 1862. It is a Six-String Banjo, with 17 frets, 8 brackets with a brass hoop, and resonator made from rosewood veneer with inlaid design. The brass hoop is etched:
George Teed
[ ] 8th 1862
This banjo features U. S. Patent #34913 dated April 8, 1862, by George Teed for an improvement in banjos.
Teed is listed in the New York City directory from 1860-1861 as a turner with a home address of 497 E. Houston. Like many craftsmen in the woodworking trades, Teed may have made banjos as a secondary business.
This early commercial banjo has top-tensioning screws to adjust the tightness of the head and a closed back resonator body designed to project the sound outwards towards the audience. Like similar mid-century banjos patented by Henry Dobson, it may have been actually made by the Buckbee company of New York.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
GIft of Roger D. Abrahams
date made
1862
ID Number
MI.68.06
catalog number
68.06
accession number
275703
Object Name
banjo
Physical Description
wood (overall material)
metal (overall material)
animal skin (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 35 1/4 in x 11 3/4 in x 2 1/2 in; 89.535 cm x 29.845 cm x 6.35 cm
place made
United States: New York, New York City
See more items in
Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments
Music & Musical Instruments
Banjos
Data Source
National Museum of American History
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nmah_605685