File:Phonofiddle (AM 1998.60.194-7).jpg

English: Phonofiddle, wood body, brass bell and fittings, one metal sting broken, fingerboard detached and missing, ivory peg handle 1 phonofiddle A T Howson, London, early 20th century (mahogany), aluminum, brass, ebony, ivory, 795 x 370 x 338 mm transfer ‘TRADE MARK - PHONO - - A.T. HOWSON - FIDDLE - Reg No. 287991’, labelled ‘A.T. HOWSON - LONDON’ and ‘A.T. HOWSON - MAKER - LONDON’ 1998.60.194 Castle 294 (presented Duff) The Howson phonofiddle uses a similar principle of amplification to the Stroh instrument. The fingering is on one string with some notes marked on the fingerboard. It is played between the knees with a violin bow. The instrument enjoyed some popularity as a novelty on the music hall stage. It was also promoted as a traveling instrument as the phonofiddle can be unscrewed into three sections for ease of transport. An advertisement claimed that ‘For any persons in country and foreign fields remote from places of entertainment one of these instruments will fill with melody many lonely hours and brighten an otherwise dull existence.’ This example was ‘played in early pioneer days by Mr. M Duff an engineer who drained the North Island swamps. At age 84 he presented the phonofiddle to the Castle collection.’