1954 Harmony H81 Electro Banjo

The Chronologue
Year	1954	Color	Jubilee Red and White
Birthplace	Chicago, Illinois	Factory Options	N/A
Manufacturer	The Harmony Company	Case Mfd.	N/A
Model	H81 “Electro” 4-string Tenor Banjo	Case Exterior	N/A
Serial #	N/A	Case Interior	N/A
Serial # Location	N/A	Case Extras	N/A
Original Price	$84.50
Specifications
Overall
Type	Electric 4-string Tenor Banjo	Body Length	11 3/8″
Weight	3.91 lbs	Body Depth	2 3/4″
Scale	23″	Upper Bout Width	N/A
# Of Strings	4	Waist Bout Width	N/A
Total Length	33 1/8″	Lower Bout Width	N/A
Construction
Body
Body Type	Wood Top, Back Attached with 6 Screws thru Grommets	Body Binding	“Harmometal” band w/ Fluted Red Plastic Insert
Top	Spruce	f-hole Binding	N/A
Back	Maple	Bracing	N/A
Sides	Maple	Finish	Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Neck
Neck Detail	Maple w/ Dowel Stick Screwed Into Heel Attached To Body	Side Marker	N/A
Neck Profile	Small D	Nut	Bone
Neck Depth	.850″ 1st Fret, 1.032 12th Fret	Nut Width	1 1/8″
Neck Attachment	Bracket w/ Angle Adjustment Slots, Set Screw	12th Fret Width	1 1/4″
Neck Heel Cap	N/A	Truss	N/A
Fingerboard	Rosewood	Truss Adjustment	N/A
Fingerboard Radius	Flat	Truss Adj. Cover	N/A
Fingerboard Binding	Fully Bound, White Celluloid	Peghead Profile	Harmony Medium Paddle, 2×2
Frets	.056″ Small Brass	Peghead Veneer	N/A
Fret Count	19	Peghead Binding	N/A
Position Marker	7 Block Pearlette Inlay 3,5,7,10,12,15,17	Peghead Logo	Stencil, White “Harmony Electro” with 6 Lightning Bolts
Hardware
Tuners	Wavery Stitch-Line	Pickguard	White Celluloid
Tuners Type	Individual, Open Back, 2-screws to Peghead Back	Pickguard Mount	Screwed To Top
Machine Heads	White Plastic, Oval	Knobs	Daka-Ware, White Chicken Head
Tuner Bushings	CM, Round	Knob Details	Black Pointer Line, Set Screw
Tailpiece	CM, Hinged Clamshell with Tension Screw	Switch Cap	N/A
Tailpiece Mount	2 Screws To Bottom Side	Control Plate	N/A
Bridge Type	1 Piece Floating Curved Block	Pickup Bezel	N/A
Bridge Detail	N/A	Pickup Location	Mid-Top
Bridge Material	Maple	Pickup Mount	2 Screws to Top
Bridge Saddle	N/A	Strap Button	Unknown
Tremolo Arm	N/A
Electronics
Pickup	DeArmond “Hershey Bar”	Switch Stamp	N/A
Pickup Detail	N/A	Switch Detail	N/A
Pickup Date	N/A	Capacitor Stamp	N/A
Pickup Poles	N/A	Cap Value	N/A
Pickup Wiring	Body Cavity	Cap Value Actual	N/A
Pickup Output	3.42kΩ	Resistor	N/A
Potentiometers	Centralab, Volume	Resistor Value Actual	N/A
Potentiometer Stamp	BA011-1273 134405 50K-C6	Wire Harness	Unshielded
Potentiometer Value	50kΩ	Ground Wire	N/A
Pot Value Actual	48.6kΩ	Output Jack	Switchcraft, Lower Bout Side on White Celluloid Plate
Notes
Catalog Description
A Completely New Instrument!
Harmony ELECTRO Banjo (Pat. Appl’d For)
Here’s a notable achievement… a new instrument in which banjo tone is created electronically!
It gives evidence of Harmony’s research and ingenuity in anticipating the trend of the day.
The “Electro” Banjo is a completely new light weight musical instrument, unlike anything else—tuned and played as the traditional banjo.
Through the magic of an ingenious bridge and electronic pickup assembly mounted on a selected resonate spruce sounding board,
it produces electrically thru any amplifier the familiar crisp banjo tone so popular today.
Play melody—play solid rhythm—in solo or in ensemble—the “Electro” Banjo will capture your fancy.
Finished in lustrous rich red-gold lacquer, with nickel plated handrest and tailpiece and individual geared tuning keys. Choice of 4- or 5-string models.
No. H81 “Electro” 4-string Tenor Banjo………………………… $84.50
No. C81 Carrying Case, extra…………………………………….. $10.50

Chronologue Legend
Pickups numbering starts from top position. Ex. P1-Neck, P2-Middle, P3-Bridge
Pup – Pickup
UB – Upper-bout, LB – Lower-bout, WB – Waist-bout
Laminate – Pressed layers of wood w/ veneer
Celluloid – Nitrocellulose-based plastics
W/B – Binding alternates White/Black or Black/White depending on count. Ex. 5-ply W/B = W/B/W/B/W
(db) – Double Markers
Pearlette – Plastic resembling natural pearl.
MOP – Authentic mother of pearl
COB – Chrome over brass
CM – Chromed Metal
OAP – Tuners mounted on a metal plate
V/T – Volume/Tone
kΩ – Kiloohms, measuring electric resistance
μF – Microfared, measuring electrical capacitance
Unknown – Electronics – examination would disrupt vintage integrity, or accurate reading is weighted by other components.
Unknown – Wood or hardware – examination would disrupt vintage integrity
N/A – Not Available from manufacturer.
The Chronologue entry is for model inspected only. Similar models may exhibit different specifications.
The Chronologue is for historic reference. Updates to continue.
Maintenance on models not performed unless documented.
The Chronologue is a registered trademark of SLT Vintage