Shopsmith Forums

Back in high school (we won't discuss how long ago THAT was) I made this banjo barometer. Over the years it got pretty beat up and the decorative mouldings at the top were broken off and missing. I couldn't bear to just toss it out and it somehow seemed to bubble to the top of every major cleaning project.

One day while surfing the net I happened upon the original plans in Popular Mechanics magazine. A screen shot, and a few minutes with PhotoShop later, I had a full-size pattern for the curly bits!

So here it is after complely refinishing and polishing the brass, restored to (almost) what it looked like when I first brought it home.

And I spent exactly nothing on it--even got away with using some 3+ year old shellac for the finish.

mindpilot
That looks real good to be that old. I looked at your profile. Nice job of renewing it.

Thanks for sharing the photo of your banjo barometer. My dad made one, probably in the 1950's. It was made of walnut, from an old pump organ purchased at a church auction. The organ was Victorian and was too tall to fit in our house. Dad took off a decorative sheet so the organ would fit and ended up with some great walnut lumber for different project.

I did not know these were called banjo barometers. His also had an inlay similar to yours. He made it with a hand jig saw. I don't have that much patience.

Jerry Floren
St. Peter, MN

That looks great! Can you post the link to the original plans? Alec

bluekayak wrote: It was made of walnut, from an old pump organ purchased at a church auction.

Frequently the best source for top quality lumber is something old. My girlfriend gave me some old doors that were stored in her house. They are probably about 80 years old and have yielded some of the nicest tight-grained doug fir you'd ever want to see!

And the best part is what ever you make, that piece will always have a good story to go with it.