G'day again,

Joe Offer: The lagerphone image that you linked is the one to which i referred, in my post: Date: 28 Jun 10 - 08:41 PM. This was the first one made by John Meredith (founder of The Bushwhackers Bush Band - ~ 1953 - 1957)and was donated to the National Library of Australia staff at 2002 (Australian) the National Folk Festival by Chris Woodlands, an old friend of the late John Meredith ... but accession details were lost.

I was asked to identify the instrument ... and was able to give much more information than is in the linked item ... but I'm rather chuffed to see Dad's nicely thought out and constructed 'fiddleback maple' striker up on the web! I had a similar one, also made by Dad ... until my lagerphone was commandeered (while I was playing mouthorgan) during a gig at the 729 Club (Sydney television personnel) decades back ... by a drunken TV presenter ... who mannaged to break it in half - no mean fit ... even for a drunk!

The lagerphone seen for the first time by most Australians (.. at least Sydneysiders) was the next one - made by Brian Loughlin - who was the regular lagerphonist with the Bushwhackers, until they broke up in 1957. Brian then continued in various incarnations of the 'Bush Music Club Concert Party' ... and other similar bands, until his untimely death in 1975. Brian's lagerphone is the model for my own ... and the one I usually use as an illustraion in any historical items on the spread (resurrection ... ?) of the instrument during the "folk revival".

Regards,

Bob