The other thing that has just occurred to me: as well as comb-and-paper, we did used to play combs as well just by plucking the teeth of them. If it is a fairly large comb with teeth of graduated thickness, you can get an effective accompaniment. If it isn't comb-and-paper, then maybe this is what the old lady is talking about.

- jeanie (Whose own dad played tunes on his teeth with the stem of his pipe with one hand, and tapped his tobacco tin with the other. When I'm an old lady in a home, I'll ask some poor unsuspecting young visitor if I can hear that sound again !)