..... was working in Ravenswood Illinois in the 1880s

Cubley was an earlier maker and one of the first to use a metal rod for the dowel stick and a metal/metal spun pot.  

In 1893 he was involved in a Patent dispute with Henry Dobson’s wife Catherine who claimed that these metal pots infringed her patents with regard to the improved tone from the Dobson bell shaped metal tone ring.  

Cubley argued successfully that his banjos used metal differently and had inferior tone to the Dobson’s and the claim was dismissed.

What this does show however is how big the banjo industry had become in the 1890’s that this case had to be decided by the US Supreme Court

images courtesy of Richard Evans estate