WS13-4

George Teed “Patented April 8, 1862” 6 String

S/N: None 1860-70s 10 1/2 x 16 1/2" (Skin Diam.) 4 7/8 lb

Condition: Excellent.

Originality: Debatable.

All known Teeds have 6 strings but all others have typical banjo necks. This has a guitar-like neck with the “top” string routed thru a channel in the neck. Most knowledgeable inspectors think the neck was added later (albeit long ago). Conceding that is probably correct, there are some characteristics that suggest it could be original (see below). The tailpiece is not original.

Background: George Teed was a New York City maker of fine banjos from the early 1860s until 1895. Only about 6 are known today. Most carry the later 1885 patent date and a minority carry this April 8, 1862 patent date, the third earliest known banjo patent. It featured a deep resonator surrounding the rim and hardware. This resonator concept was essentially ignored until the 1920s after which it became the norm for most banjos even to the present. Teed resonators were typically highly decorated with lovely wood marquetry far in advance of the times. This resonator has fabulous marquetry work on all surfaces.

The combination of this ornate pot with this simple, guitar-like neck raises many questions. At first glance one would think they were put together later but careful consideration of the craftsmanship, the matching patinas of the neck and resonator, the shape of the heel and its notch, the history of Alfred Cammayer and British zither-banjos, the 6th string channeling thru the neck and other features suggest to some viewers that this could be "as made" by George Teed. If so, the date would probably be late 1870s and surely before his 1885 patented design. A delightful enigma and likely to remain so. The most plausible explanation proposed thus far is that this was originally made by Teed as a banjo guitar and later someone copied the zither banjo technique by routing the 6th string through a channel and changing it to a narrow gauge, drone string.

About this instrument:
1) “George Teed Pat. April 8, 1862" engraved on the metal band around the head. This was the third earliest banjo patent.
2) The most striking and revolutionary feature is the resonator enclosing the pot assembly. This form of construction would have to wait approximately 60 years to become prevalent.
3) Gorgeous marquetry work on the resonator surfaces.
4) Rather than having a tuning peg on the side of the neck, the top string is channeled thru a slot on the side of the neck to emerge at the peghead.
5) For better or worse, this is the only Teed known with this guitar-style neck.

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