North Carolina
Robert Pell

Mixed metals
ca. 2010s
Height: 39 in; Width: 13.75 in; Depth: 4.5 in
Other – Sculptures

A truly amazing and unique on-of-a-kind banjo made by Robert Pell of GearRhythm in North Carolina.   This was the first made banjo in his collection.  It is a 5-string full scale gear & wrench banjo with stainless and brass braided strings that is built to-scale.

 Rob describes the construction of this instrument below:
A plane of mechanical gears and chains function as the backplate. A cast industrial Browning pulley discovered at a farm in NC functions as the body. Antique, made in the USA wrenches comprise the neck. All components were intentionally sourced specifically for this instrument… as opposed to others made of welded scrap iron and junk. The vintage components themselves represent a time in the US when the highest quality tools were manufactured here, preserved in this artistic banjo as an heirloom.

To further share the creative thoughts and meaningful expression behind Rob’s artistic works, he states:  “The idea intended to articulate has been – apply wisdom, experience, excellence and determination (the neck of wrenches) to the young, powerful minds and blank canvases of the students (body of gears) through direct interaction (braided wire strings connecting neck-to-body) to create something beautiful (the music).”

You can visit his website at www. forgedinstrumentation.com.