where to buy a phonofiddle?

Subject: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 08:28 PM

Question from somebody on another forum who thought I might know.

Where would you look if you wanted to buy a phonofiddle?

Either side of the pond.

I used to see them in junk shops, but not for 20 years now.

Does anybody sell make-your-own kits?

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 10:37 PM

Phonofiddle and Stroviol Appreciation Society on Facebook might be able to help. I likewise haven't seen any for sale for years, and somehow neglected to purchase one when I did see them. The only ones I saw were the one-string variety, which I guess I thought would be limiting.

I was amazed to hear a group of about six people playing four-string Phonofiddles at the National Folk Festival in Canberra, at Easter, 2010. This was what appeared to be an impromptu session, but to get that many players together must have taken some forward planning. Unfortunately I didn't think to get contact details from any of them. Bob Bolton might be able to identify somebody?

Hobgoblin has one for sale:-
65WA1252: Stroviols 1 String Phono Fiddle. Good Condition. Rare Price: £250.00

Pamela's Music occasionally has one, but not at the moment.

eBay last August

Ross

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: Barb'ry
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 04:01 AM

There's a website called strohviolin.com Is that the same thing? It's US based and looks a bit expensive...

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 08:10 AM

There was one being played on the Beeb just before Christmas. It was part of a prog. to show how the Beeb was preparing for the Olympics. Near an estate in London (possibly near the White City studios) they had erected a huge t.v. screen and were testing the sound levels around the streets near various blocks of flats to see what the levels should be to minimise disruption to those living there. Outsie some shops there was a East European looking guy busking with a phonofiddle and the presenter had to keep asking him to stop playing so that the sound engineers could record the sound levels from the screen. He obviously didn't understand English and kept playing - which was quite amusing. I'd rather have heard more of him than the cr*p from the Olympic screen.

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 12:42 PM

I think you'll find that Hobgoblin has more than one. There was one on the wall of the Manchester branch when I called in for a chat this afternoon.

I suppose I ought to ask which sort you're looking for; i.e. like the one illustrated which you play between your knees of the type you play like a fiddle under your chin/armpit (probably "oxter" to you Jack)

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: iancarterb
Date: 30 Dec 11 - 08:59 AM

Q: So where do you buy a beer in this town, Cowboy?

A; PAMELA'S ALE-MAP.

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: iancarterb
Date: 30 Dec 11 - 09:02 AM

oops- that was supposed to go to the cowboy palindrome thread...

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: GUEST,Oli Langford
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 07:55 AM

Try setting up Google Alerts, to be alerted of any internet postings (like this one!)

I have three 4 string stroviols, and one 1 string

I have these ones setup:

"Phono-fiddle"

"resophonic violin"

phonofiddle

Strohviol

Stroviol

the first one i bought in Paris 3 years ago (£2,108.50)

the second was a private sale in Norwich (£900) with original case

the 3rd was from Bonhams auction house (£2,470.00)

The 1 string one was from Ebay for £113. came with case. I reckon that's a bargain. I would have paid upto 200, but no more.

The Norwich one is in the best condition and sounds almost like a normal violin.

The Paris one sounds like an old gramophone.. my favourite.

The Bonham one is not bad. i need to spend a bit on new bridge, fingerboard etc... i paid too much for this, but it was my first time in an auction house, and got a little carried away. To see what's coming up at auction, you need to register etc.

They do come up on Ebay every now and then. Mostly the 1 string ones.. (great!)

http://www.musurgia.com/ in the US have a steady flow of unusual fiddles.. worth contacting them.. i think they are overpriced though.

Oli

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: Ernest
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 01:06 PM

Look here

Best
Ernest

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 04:20 AM

One was owned by a friend in Hertford who has sadly passed on.
If you like I will pass your name to his widow.
PM an email address if interested.

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Apr 12 - 12:04 PM

http://strohviolin-shop.com/de/index.php

I looked here and tried to order, but no answer after 1 week. Anyone know if its working?

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 20 Apr 12 - 01:43 PM

For the idly curious, like me, there are videos of phonofiddles on YouTube. I wouldn't have believed in their existence, otherwise.

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: Seayaker
Date: 20 Apr 12 - 01:45 PM

If you have a look at the website of Moseley Violins in Birmingham, www.moseleyviolins.co.uk and go to the news section, they talk about having two Stroviols.
One is being restored and lent to The Rolay Shakespeare Company but they don't say what is happening with the other. It isn't on their secondhand list but it could be worth a phonecall.
0121 693 1214.

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 20 Apr 12 - 02:16 PM

Hobgoblin London shop had one a week or so back

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: Seayaker
Date: 20 Apr 12 - 05:43 PM

I think that is still on the s/hand list under "other fretted instruments" (?) 36L5407 Phono-Fiddle, Howson, 1920's £150

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: GUEST,Al
Date: 25 Apr 12 - 11:17 PM

We have one fornsale

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: Jim Martin
Date: 26 Apr 12 - 06:50 AM

Seem to remember Charley Lennon's brother (Ben) playing one on the street in Miltown Malbay when he had his musical instrument stall in the Willie Clancy Week - but not sure whether he was actually selling them, or what year it was! Jim Carroll may have some idea?

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 26 Apr 12 - 07:24 AM

More details would help, Guest Al

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 04 Nov 13 - 11:06 AM

Hi, do you still have the phonofiddle ??

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: GUEST,gutcher
Date: 04 Nov 13 - 01:08 PM

For some reason this type of fiddle was known to us in the countryside as a "Strob" fiddle. Some ten or twelve years back a beautiful example in its fitted leather case came up for sale in a Glasgow auction room with an estimated sale price of £40---£60. No one who viewed it when I was around had any idea what it was and I had to explain that this was the type of fiddle used by Scott Skinner and others 100yrs. ago when making recordings etc. This was such a beautiful instrument that I decided if it sold for £100 or less I would buy it as a memento of past days, in the event it sold for what was to me and the auctioneers an astounding £960.
My friend in Ayr has a record of the original Gallowglas Ceildh Band the record sleeve of which has a picture of the band with a prominent view of a young lady playing one of these instruments, this being the best picture I have seen of an instrument of this type.

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Nov 13 - 09:04 PM

My 11-years old friend Claire's newest fiddle

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Nov 13 - 12:21 AM

Probably lighter than an antique instrument and better than a single string!
http://strohviolin.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=8

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: GUEST,Guest Jo
Date: 23 Nov 15 - 11:54 AM

I have a phono fiddle made by Keith Prowse$Co Ltd of London. It has a brass plaque which also gives the name A. S. Howson. I would like to sell it.

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 08:06 AM

I have six of the phonofiddles including a Ukulele version, all made by my Grandfather A.T Howson.

In addition other relatives have some of them in order to keep them in the "family"

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 08:26 AM

(Are you Peter Howson the artist?)

From the number Google knows about, there seem to be enough Howson instruments in existence to keep a VERY large family supplied.

I see there was a tutor book for it by L.E. Howson, from 1910.

A friend of mine has recently made one. The transducer was either a boot polish or a meat paste tin. Apparently the acoustics of small tins is very variable and you need to get exactly the right type, as with the yogurt pots traditionally used for making bagpipe reeds.

It just occurred to me that you could add microtonal frets to the one-string type and get something very like a Turkish yayli tanbur. I might even try that if I can get a fiddle cheap enough.

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: Gutcher
Date: 05 Apr 17 - 10:45 AM

Came across one of the one string Stroviola fiddles at a friends house last week,this being the first of the one string variety that I have seen.
My friend informed me that one of his sons was able to play it, must visit when that son is there, to hear it played.

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: GUEST,Alison
Date: 20 Sep 17 - 01:27 AM

I have one for sale...its gathering dust

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 21 Sep 17 - 04:52 AM

Geordie McAdam in Northern Ireland makes some novelty fiddles such as matchstick fiddles, fiddles with sympathetic strings (they are not as good as real Hardangerfele though) and phonofiddles. The McAdam phonofiddles I've seen have the full complement of strings rather than only one string. https://www.facebook.com/geordie.mcadam

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Dec 17 - 03:51 PM

Guest,GuestJo how much would you want for it?

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: GUEST
Date: 24 May 18 - 07:42 AM

i have a four string violin phono fiddle and a one string celo one i am looking to rehome if anyone is interested

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 24 May 18 - 07:45 AM

Where are you and how could anyone contact you?

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: GUEST
Date: 24 May 18 - 07:46 AM

i ought to add contact details eh?...for the above....im based in the north of england, doncaster email [e-mail]
the violin needs a new bridge, they were used by my father and myself when we did a variety theatre act many years ago and have been stored for the last 40 yrs

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 24 May 18 - 06:56 PM

This site has pictures and buying information http://www.instrumentspast.co.uk/instruments/CVod/C301Vod.html

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 24 May 18 - 07:04 PM

Here is some interesting information from Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroh_violin with links to more information

Subject: RE: where to buy a phonofiddle?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 24 May 18 - 07:42 PM

ASTOUNDING ! ! !

Thank you for posting the video

Sincerely,

Gargoyle
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A band I was connected with had a very large kazoo made out of sewer pipe. It worked!