maneckep - Posted - 06/26/2017:  14:27:19

OK - I recently purchase a very nice SS Stewart American Princess banjo from the late 1800's.  Everything pretty much looks original except the frosted Remo head.  I want to put a skin head back on.  I have some old vintage flesh hoops laying around and plan to cut one to fit.  I have both rounded stock ones and flat/square stock ones. 

What type would have originally been on this old Stewart?

Thanks in advance for your expertise!

 

Crusty - Posted - 06/26/2017:  15:23:01

I dunno what was original but the square ones don't slip so I know what I'd use.

jbalch - Posted - 06/26/2017:  17:49:30

Since heads are necessarily replaceable, the "original" hoop material may not be of special significance to a collector. 

But ... for what it is worth ... many of the early banjos I've seen (with very old heads installed) have had round wire flesh hoops.  

I don't think your specific question is answered here...but you might enjoy these instructions for replacing the head - from SS Stewart:  banjothimble.com/The_Stewart_C...0Head.pdf

Edited by - jbalch on 06/26/2017 17:51:20

trapdoor2 - Posted - 06/26/2017:  19:27:08

Mine have been all round iron wire. Some were galvanized wire. Several were wrapped in cotton cloth tape (I dunno why, I threw it away and didn't replace it). The one on my very first Stewart, an 1889 Orchestra #2, had the ends filed to a locking scarf joint which snicked together kinda like the locking feature on a pair of hemostats. Very cool. Several had their ends taped together, at least one (IIRC) was butt-soldered. Others had no joining method at all.

I've used both round and square. I have no preference either way, both work fine.

RG - Posted - 06/26/2017:  22:40:12

FWIW, the three SSS banjos I've owned (2 Special Thoroughbred's and one Universal Favorite) all had round flesh hoops...

G Edward Porgie - Posted - 06/27/2017:  04:47:05

I own a Stewart "second grade" with a round hoop.

Jarvie - Posted - 06/28/2017:  19:18:03

I have seen a "few" SS Stewart banjos over the years, and they have always had iron or steel hoops that were round, as far as I can recall.

I have also seen them with cloth and or shellac (or other varnish), taped at the ends or not.

Pretty much as described above.

While a square brass one may be a better "product" I have never had any problems with round hoops, and feel that they are a characteristic feature of these instruments and the time they were made.

I think the earliest square (and brass) hoops I have seen were on some Fairbanks banjos, some of which also had a tension hoop which they tucked into, for a neat look. Those have a rabbited edge on the lower tension hoop, which covers much of the flesh hoop.

But I have not had problems with either rust or slipping with the old style round hoop.

If there is cloth or tape, I try to keep it (mosty as a document of the original condition) and sometimes I will shellac it if not covered. I suspect these both were ideas to provide more friction and/or a barrier to rust. I don't recall any of the early directions (as mentioned above) suggesting either of these.

And if the tape is missing I might replace that. Or not.

And I clean off any rust if present.

I have seen some hoops that may have been galvanized or otherwise flashed or lightly plated (nickel?) but sometimes wondered if it might just be very clean steel.

I always try to stick with the time period and original set up, so would use an original hoop if avaialabe, and a round hoop on Stewarts.