Straps

[Al Smitley]

I received a personal inquiry regarding the use of straps.

I think it was from Nicholas Bechtel but could be wrong as I don't understand this technology well enough to respond quickly and then it was gone.  Perhaps he saw a photo of me and detected that I had a rope attached to my banjo.  'Tis true.  I don't know if this was done in the mid-19th C but I did so for a particular event where I would not have the opportunity to sit and it has remained on ever since.

This raises a valid question, however.  Were straps, indeed, used in the 19th C?

If so, what were they like?

[Wes Merchant]

This gentleman has one, a simple cord of some kind.

http://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/photo/unidentified-banjo-player?conte...

[Wes Merchant]

Kind of reminded me of Roscoe Holcomb's "strap"