looking for old Banjo part source

[David Farmer]

I'm looking for some old (1900) banjo hardware. Specifically a turnbuckle strap like the one in the picture.

Does anyone know a source for old banjo parts like this?

Any input would be welcome.

[Frank Ford]

That bit of salvage is a bit tough to find - I'm unaware of any modern repro.  I suggest trying to post a query on the Banjo Hangout forum.

[David Farmer]

 Thanks, I have a query over there too.

[Ned Knepp]

David, I did a google search on stainless steel turnbuckles and found a bunch of places to get tapered turnbuckles like this one. Looks like they are used a lot in marine systems.  You would need to get someone to make the rods for you but it shouldn't be too expensive to do it that way.  

[David Farmer]

Thanks Ned.

one of my first thoughts was how much it looks like a shroud tensioner on a sailboat. I think fabricating one would be a budget buster for this job but I' keep it in mind. I think working stainless is pretty tough too.

[onewent]

David, you could try Bernunzio, Inter Mountain and Elderly.  They've helped me in the past.  Tom

[Paul Breen]

Bob Smakula would be a good person to try.

http://www.smakula.com/

[David Farmer]

Thanks so much guys, I'll  give those four a shot.

[Murray MacLeod]

The turnbuckle might be stainless, but the rods themselves are bright mild steel surely?

If they are in fact mild steel, then if you have a coal fire, heating and flattening the ends wouldn't be too difficult. All you would need to do then is thread the other ends and drill the holes..

[David Farmer]

I'm sure the original was mild steel Murray. I was just noticing that similar looking turnbuckles are from the marine industry where they are surly stainless.

Apparently, these turnbuckles were mostly used to crack heel blocks so not nessisarily a bad I dea to leave it off. I'm  just looking to make this a complete original for someone.

 As romantic as fabricating one is, one has to draw the line somewhere! My tool wish list is long, but for now, I have to hold off on adding coal fired forge to it. :)

[Steve Bettesworth]

I'm not a banjo person, I'd put them in the category of bagpipes and recorders, I don't like them but whatever floats your boat. I've been looking at this turn-buckle thing for a couple of days and all I  want to know is how does it work? It adjusts tension, but are there LH/RH threads each end or what? Apologies if this is a dumb question but I would be really interested to find out.

Steve

[David Farmer]

They don't work. Hence the evolutionary dead end. The glue joint on a dowel stick frequently gives up the ghost. reinforcing the torque w/ an adjustable turnbuckle probably just added stress via owner/operator abuse.

modern banjos have two ,"coordinator rods" that screw into the end grain of the neck to tweak the neck angle (think Bridge Doctor connected to bolt on neck). Time and Darwin will tell how good an idea this is.

I can't believe you lumped Recorder in w/ bagpipes. I have fond memories of Recorder ensemble in jounior high. That guy Bach was fond of them.:)

[Steve Bettesworth]

Thanks David. I've suffered from recorders for over 20 years. I'm sure if they are played by someone who has learnt to play them they are a delight. Sadly no one ever has.