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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: idaho1 on July 18, 2012, 06:20:19 PM

Title: Another strange object
Post by: idaho1 on July 18, 2012, 06:20:19 PM

I found this today . It is very old for sure . All hand made . I can only guess its a musical instrument of some home made kind . Its about the size of your hand .

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee287/bukettt/huh001.jpg)
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee287/bukettt/huh002.jpg)

Title: Re: Another strange object
Post by: mart on July 18, 2012, 06:38:02 PM

I wouldn`t know what to call it to look it up but its interesting !!  Where are you shopping to find all these odd items ???

Title: Re: Another strange object
Post by: kidden6968 on July 18, 2012, 06:50:32 PM

Some type of primitive xylophone or something?

Title: Re: Another strange object
Post by: KC on July 18, 2012, 07:38:03 PM

Do the pieces come out?

I think you might have what my grandparents had....a thumb piano!  But most are on a mounted box...

Title: Re: Another strange object
Post by: Rauville on July 18, 2012, 07:53:37 PM

I had a similar piece once that I called a "Sanza", but I see they go by different names: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mbira (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mbira)

Title: Re: Another strange object
Post by: ghopper1924 on July 18, 2012, 08:49:19 PM

I thought thumb piano immediately, though I've never seen one like this. It looks like folk art.

Title: Re: Another strange object
Post by: KC on July 18, 2012, 09:29:46 PM

LOL  Rauville, look at thumb piano in Wikipedia...same pic!!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thumb_piano (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thumb_piano)

Title: Re: Another strange object
Post by: idaho1 on July 19, 2012, 12:14:31 AM

Again this group amazes me . I had never heard of a 'thumb piano' before , but it looks like that is what i have here in home made form . Yes the metal pieces do come out , in fact they want to fall out . Its a miracle they are all here .

Mart ... I go to yard sales . I also run a repair/second hand shop . This one was brought in by a young guy just out of the blue . I have several old things around my shop and am known to like-fix-buy-sell wierd/interesting stuff .

I noticed that link explained how the tines were arranged . I will study that more and maybe fix this one up ? Its cool . Only a little dusting will be needed . I wonder if those symbols on it are foregn notes of some kind .   

Thanks again for the help .

Title: Re: Another strange object
Post by: mart on July 19, 2012, 06:53:16 AM

I have never seen anything like that !!  Guess they didn`t have them in Texas !!

Title: Re: Another strange object
Post by: KC on July 19, 2012, 08:24:29 AM

Can you enlarge the symbols or draw them out and take a pic of it?

Mart, they were used all over...and usually traveled with families.  My favorite of my grandfathers was his mouth harp, (AKA Jews Harp or jaw harp)!

Title: Re: Another strange object
Post by: mart on July 19, 2012, 11:00:00 AM

My Dad called it a "juice harp" because it made his mouth water !!  I am well familiar with those !!

Title: Re: Another strange object
Post by: heyimjason on July 19, 2012, 02:01:09 PM

Quote from: mart on July 19, 2012, 11:00:00 AM

My Dad called it a "juice harp" because it made his mouth water !!  I am well familiar with those !!

Are you talking about jaw harps?  They're commonly called juice harps and occasionally Jew's harps.  I have a few of them laying around.

Title: Re: Another strange object
Post by: mart on July 19, 2012, 02:28:31 PM

Yes, Thats what we are talking about !!