First electric cigar box guitar ever?

Let me introduce to You Mr. Leopold Fijałkowski from Kielce, POLAND. Ingenious inventor of cosmic items like suspenders shock absorbers, bike on suspension, canned food actually made in bottle without the neck, eternal flytrap made with wire and sticky liquid. In 1906, in Kielce (south-east of Poland) Mr. Leopold engineered the first in Poland cigar box guitar made of wooden box and neck taken off of the Russian 7-string guitar.

Based on information provided by Mr. Leopold’s heirs, the instrument was electric from the beginning. But this is a risky thesis. In 1906 electricity was widely used for lighting but not for the acoustic purposes. The same year, in New York, the first loudspeaker was invented, but it’s unlikely that this technology was known in Kielce, Poland. Probably Radio inspired Mr. Leopold to build his electric instrument few years later.

Due to witnesses and local Kielce’s press, Mr. Leopold performed with his instrument which was described as “organ sound”. Hence we can presume that the instrument had installed sound modulator that is the first electric guitar effect unit ever. Unfortunately even though the instrument is still exists in collection of Kielce’s History Museum, there are no attempts to play the instrument and record the sound. It is because the bridge is missing. I suppose that the bridge was a stick protruding from the pickup gathering the strings vibrations as in an gramophone.

On the picture: complete instrument. Guitar is installed to the stand which also plays to role of the base for the pedal effect unit.


The first electric pickup in Poland up close. I would risk to say: the first in the world.

Control pedal

Mr. Leopold and his gear (1920 - 1930)

All pictures are from Kielce’s History Museum collection and are Its property. All rights reserved. Any copying, sharing, public use prohibited.

Source: www.cigarboxguitar.pl

Views: 5091

Comment

You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!

Join Cigar Box Nation

Comment by Joe Nadenicek on March 9, 2019 at 8:05am
Holy Mackerel - it's the Bodineaphone - cut the juice - turn me loose!!! Just kidding - very cool build.
Comment by Joe Caruso on March 7, 2019 at 5:33am

Wow! Thanks for sharing, knowledge of its existence now expanded to a broader audience. 

Comment by Luis Andres Indaburu on September 6, 2016 at 12:17pm

That guitar just begs to be made at home with some patience and lots of weird Looks from the wife.

Comment by J.Rob on September 6, 2016 at 4:52am

Innovative so cool!
Thank YOU for sharing history with us!!!

Comment by Glenn Kaiser on September 5, 2016 at 7:31am

THIS is simply INCREDIBLE! Many thanks for posting. Just amazing bit of history here. And sho nuff wish we could hear it Paul! -Glenn

Comment by Dave Lynas on November 15, 2014 at 1:26am

That's a spicy meatball, Phrygian.....

Comment by The Phrygian Kid on November 15, 2014 at 12:22am
Comment by Dave Lynas on November 14, 2014 at 10:06am

I like the floating sound board. It really adds to the wizardry aspect. Cool to the max.....

Comment by Marvin walker on November 14, 2014 at 1:19am

That's funny... Made me smile! But not as funny as this... https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1885543510/the-bandrum-a-new-f....

Comment by Paul Gatenby on November 13, 2014 at 10:24pm

Amazing, wouldn't you just love to hear it?

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 21. 11 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

CB Bass Guitar

Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies

Latest Activity

A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you Poorness ! for loving it ! appreciated!"
13 hours ago
Southern Ray replied to Timothy Hunter's discussion just came accross this pickup idea on youtube.
" Very interesting. Thank you Timothy!"
13 hours ago
Kent Thurston updated their profile
14 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Punch Project!

She now sports gold metal CBGitty knobs, speaker and an Artec 2.5 watt speaker. Finished this in…
15 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Project Punch!

Gonna finally get back on this long-delayed project that is more than half complete. (The matching…
15 hours ago
Poorness Studios liked A.D.EKER's video
17 hours ago
BrianQ. left a comment for Rob (Uker) Porras
"Hope this helps?"
17 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"I appreciate the kind words Papa D! I have always loved the look of these cigar boxes. Glad to have…"
20 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
23 hours ago
A.D.EKER posted a video

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

The recorded History By Alan Lomax for the library of Congres of the Blues, from Mc Kinley Morganfield (Aka Muddy Waters) the in this take recorded Tribute ...
23 hours ago
Papa D commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"Beautiful..Nice work Doug.."
yesterday
Papa D commented on Papa D's photo
Thumbnail

american1 Sun Glo

"Thanx AGP & Doug..  4 more coming soon"
yesterday

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->