what's an 'attrape-nigaud'?

Subject: what's an 'attrape-nigaud'?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 05:15 PM

What the heck is this thing for?


attrape-nigaud on French EBay

Subject: RE: what's an 'attrape-nigaud'?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 05:30 PM

I've never studied French, but here goes:

"BEAU CADEAU DE NOEL pour COLLECTIONNEUR d intruments à vent à embouchure"

Pretty Christmas-time caddy to collect wind-embouchere instruments


i.e, you stick your whistles on the little pegs when playing Christmas carols.

That doesn't explain the mouthpiece on the side, however.

Good luck with this. :)

Subject: RE: what's an 'attrape-nigaud'?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 05:40 PM

'attrape-nigaud' means a con, or swindle. (literally 'to trick a fool')
BEAU CADEAU DE NOEL etc means 'a nice Christmas present for collectors of wind instruments played by mouth.'

Subject: RE: what's an 'attrape-nigaud'?
From: Barb'ry
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 05:42 PM

cadeau is a present - so it's a pretty christmas present for people who collect wind instruments (I think)

Subject: RE: what's an 'attrape-nigaud'?
From: Monique
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 06:09 PM

I found "sucker bait" as a translation for "attrape-nigaud" and it seems the perfect translation of what it means in French. It says (Cf. above) ... "(et autres) + de details sur l' effet produit à tout demandeur" = ... (and others -), more details about the impression/effect produced on anyone who asks (for it?) it's not clear whether it's anyone who asks for a piece of information about the item or anyone who asks for it = to order)

Subject: RE: what's an 'attrape-nigaud'?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 07:06 PM

I wondered if it might be a gambling device - drop peas down the trumpet mouthpiece into the chamber and bet on which pipe they fall out of. With some piece of hidden hardware inside the chamber that lets the operator cheat.

Subject: RE: what's an 'attrape-nigaud'?
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 07:16 PM

I recall Mike Ruff http://www.mikeruffmusic.net/main/ playing something that looked a bit similar but made of wood. It seemed to be a sort of rennaisance kazoo. Because he was blowing halfway down the side, he looked as if he was eating a large corn on the cob.

Subject: RE: what's an 'attrape-nigaud'?
From: David C. Carter
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 04:45 AM

The book:Catch 22,in French,has the above mentioned title.

That would be Joseph Heller's book by the way

David

Subject: RE: what's an 'attrape-nigaud'?
From: GUEST,crazy little woman
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 09:53 AM

It doesn't show that there are openings on the back sides of the little tubes. You put all your whistles over the little tubes, then blow through fthe mouthpiece, and all the whistles play at once.

You know how a pipe organ looks like a bunch of recorders mounted upside down? This is the same idea, but for whistles.

Maybe...

But I do like your gambling idea, Jack.

Subject: RE: what's an 'attrape-nigaud'?
From: alex s
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 01:07 PM

Literally it's a con or swindle

Subject: RE: what's an 'attrape-nigaud'?
From: alex s
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 01:08 PM

Sorry Eliza, didn't read your comment

Subject: RE: what's an 'attrape-nigaud'?
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 07:28 PM

By "intruments à vent à embouchure" the seller seems to mean brass instruments (labiophones). The mouthpiece (embouchure) is from a cornet or fluegelhorn.

Nosy fools (such as I, if I had the chance) will be "trapped" to use the mouthpiece as if it led to a real instrument. The seller guarantees an "effect", which may be some "raspberry" sound, possibly modified if the player shuts some of the tubes with her/his fingers.

If someone invests/wastes the €300, tell us what happened. 0 offers so far, scarcely surprising.