The 1933 Schireson Flywheel Resonator for Cigar Box Guitars

Does your Biscuit Bridge cone seem to be lacking something?

I have found a radical approach to the 6 inch resonator cone in a cigar box guitar. Back in 1933 the Schireson Brother developed a new bridge system called the Flywheel bridge. Even though it is clearly different from the Spider bridge developed by Dobro, it lost it's copyright challenge in Court.

Details: https://mydirtyguitarhabit.com/the-schireson-brothers-and-the-cone-...

After a futile search for 6 inch spider bridges, I started using Flywheels that I make myself using the C.B.Gitty wooden resonator covers, and it works unbelievably well.

First, you have to fill in the center biscuit hole with a piece of wood. You then glue in a pair of saddle supports to hold your bridge saddle in position.

I personally use Tri-Cone replacement cones because they lack the "biscuit shelf" in the center, giving the assembled cone more depth, but regular cones should work just as well. I invert the cone so that the rim edge is supported on the top soundboard. The wooden flywheel cover transfers the bridge energy to the rim of the cone much like a spider bridge does. The center post adds stability, and is fastened to the cone by a screw in the center hole of the cone.

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Permalink Reply by 3 String Blues on March 15, 2021 at 7:49am

this is just too cool! you are such a great and talented builder!

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Permalink Reply by Ranblin' Dan Stevens on March 20, 2021 at 4:26pm

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Permalink Reply by Ranblin' Dan Stevens on March 20, 2021 at 4:26pm

Wow ! This inspires me.. just gettin into the reso stuff..

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on March 28, 2021 at 3:43am

That is interesting. I did similar on a 6 inch CBG cone I put into my old Silvertone guitar. It works fine. I think in truth, I did it that way due to cutting the hole a bit big and using the crossbar to even pressure.

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Permalink Reply by G.S. Monroe on March 28, 2021 at 4:06am

I had to come up with this because I was getting requests for 6 inch cone, 8 string/4 course Octave Mandolins in a small body. There was no way that your typical biscuit bridge 6 inch cone (4x 10lbs nylon) would handle 8 steel strings (8x 16lbs Steel) even in extra light gauges.