VERY RARE William O. Shmick Tenor Banjo by Vega

Description

RARE antique William O. Schmick Lyric Tenor Banjo made in Camden, New Jersey
William O. Schmick applied for his banjo rim patent 09/23/1914 and patent #1180197 was issued to him on 04/18/1916.
5 variations were made and sold -- tenor, plectrum, 5 string, mandolin and guitar banjos have all been seen. They were modeled after the zither-banjos invented by Cammeyer, and designed to be played with gut strings. These banjos, which were made to his order by Vega, probably inspired the deep-walled resonators of the Vega "Vox" line of banjos which was introduced circa 1928.
From 1925, Schmick's "Lyric Brand" banjos were distributed by the Carl Fischer Company. Note that the Fischer ad incorrectly lists the patent as the date it was submitted, rather than the correct, issued date. Lyric Banjos appeared in Fischer musical instrument catalogs through the late twenties, but in 1932, they were no longer listed.