I could use help in identifying a musical instrument that I’ve spent hours trying to find described on the internet without success. When I first came to Wisconsin in the 50’s we were occasionally entertained by local polka bands that would use a simple homemade instrument to add a comedic flavor to their performance. I'm not sure what it was called. I thought it might be something like "broomwhacker" but that's obviously not correct. However, I think I can describe it, at least to some extent. It appeared to be a broom stick to which were attached a number of things that could be shaken, plucked or hit. They were not all the same but I believe some had a tin pie plate attached to the lower portion with a string running downward across it that could be plucked, a bell that could be hit with a stick and a tin can filled with pebbles; and there may have been other devices attached. At the base of the stick there was either a rubber ball or a spring that permitted the stick, while held vertically, to be bounced up and down in time to the music to add a percussion effect.If anyone knows of such an instrument and could refer me to a place I might see how one of these is made it would be greatly appreciated.
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This is a old post but areally cool instrument. I remember them years ago being used in hillbilly bands and most recently I stumbled across an Irish band called Rend Collective who uses one and even found an instructional video on Youtube with that band's percussionist. I am building a couple of Stumpf Fiddles, one for my son-in-law and one to have around the house when wayward percussionist show up and wanna jam.
Wow! There's never too much info. Got a kick checking out the links and finding some videos of some variations in use. Thanks much.
Mike "Katfish" Karash said:
Too much ifo? Lagerphone aka monkey stick! Add cymbals/drum/strings for the pogocello, from wikipedia...
The mendoza, mendozer, monkey stick or lagerphone, is a traditional English percussion instrument, widely used in folk music. The origins of the name are not known but it is believed to stem from an association with one of the many Gypsy, Spanish and Italian buskers who were popular in London in the Victorian era.
This instrument is constructed from a stout pole affixed to a heavy boot at the base. Metal "jingles", commonly beer-bottle tops, are fastened at intervals along the shaft. When played on a wooden floor (common in ale-houses) the sound produced is a combination of a bass drum and tambourine. It can also be played with an additional small notched or serrated stick held in the other hand, allowing it to not only be shaken or hammered onto the ground, but also "bowed" to produce a combined clicking and rattling sound.
The name "monkey stick" comes from a modern practice: in homage to the trained monkeys formerly used by buskers to solicit money from passers-by, a number of musicians have taken to fixing a small stuffed toy monkey to the tops of their instruments.
In Australia, this instrument constructed with beer-bottle tops is known as a lagerphone, a variation of the traditional aboriginal instrument using shells. The same name and construction is found in New Zealand.
In Newfoundland, it is referred to as an "ugly stick." In the Dutch province Friesland this type of instrument is known as a 'kuttepiel'. In the American upper-midwestern states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, the closely related stumpf fiddle or pogocello originated in Czech communities and adds small cymbals, strings, and a drum.
The variation of this instrument called the ‘Zob Stick’ was constructed and named in 1968 by percussionist and songwriter Keef Trouble of the band Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts and Terry Dactyl and the Dinosaurs. It is now, with the term ‘Lagerphone,’ the most commonly used name for this instrument. The Brett Marvin invented term ‘Zob’ was taken from an old risqué UK naval term that has the same meaning in French. The Keef Trouble ‘Zob Stick’ is distinguished by the addition of a sprung-boot attached to the bottom of the pole and a metal sleeve round its centre, this being hit with a serrated wooden stick.
Contemporary bands, such as Groanbox and Zapoppin', have also incorporated the Monkey stick into their recordings and live shows.
Thank you all. The picture from Shane is great, it's exactly how I remembered it albeit a little fancier and professional than the ones I'd seen The one"Katfish" is planning to make has all the ingredients I'd seen before. I may try to make one too. What always amazed me is that, handled properly, it actually helped the musical outcome when it accompanied a concertina and fiddle, and maybe a banjo or ocarina and harmonica or two.
You see these on ebay now and then , in the dulcimer category. A guy in Bodega Bay, CA (gurdymaker on ebay) , not to far from where I live , makes "walking stick" dulcimers/ukuleles , as well as a bunch of other stuff...
Mike "Katfish" Karash said:
Not what your looking for, but I've never seen or heard of these! http://www.larkinam.com/WalkingStickInstruments.html
I've heard it called a HoBo traveling band, Hobo music stick, and HoBo walking stick. I've seen them a couple of times at yard sales in N. Central Fl. I've already bought a 6 foot closet rod ( 1 1/4" wood dowel) to build one. I'd suggest tackin on whatever you want to make whatever noises you like! I'm going to put a screen door spring over a pie tin for the snare sound, cow bell, brass bell, bike horn, a small hand drum or wood block for percussion, and a pluckin' string on a mini pie tin resonator to twang on. Just dream it up and grab your screwdriver!
It's a Stumpf Fiddle. Also known as a bumbass, boombass, Pogo Cello...
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pogo_cello