Stumpf Fiddle Pictures
Sparky's Stumpf Fiddle
At right is a picture of Sparky's fiddle, slightly modified from the original Fiddle Factory issue.
Its original bicyle bell (which never worked quite well) was replaced with a rotating contraption that lets you do fancy rhythms and annoy the heck out of everyone! ;-)
Note that the horn was, at that time, also busted.
And to the left, the new and improved version! Sparky tricked it out for his new gig
with the Seed & Feed Marching Abominable
in Atlanta, GA…
Here's a picture of Sparky
with the Seed & Feed Marching band. The fiddle is now outfitted with a plastic LP "wood block" (the symphonic one didn't make it past last season).
And, who's this beautiful drum major? Could it be Sparky's wonderful wife?
Photos by Alan Sandercock
Brett, in PA writes:
"My mom was in the Reading Pa. area BOOMBADEERS. I was cleaning out her house and found her boomba and 2 accordians. The boomba looks like your
'stumpf fiddle' They used to play at Polish and Pa. Dutch weddings and just for fun at the Lyons Fiddle Fest. Really scares the cats!
"I did a little more searching and found my Moms red vest 'uniform' and patch. It seems the Happy Boombadears are ancient and well in Allentown, Pa.
and actually still play, they have 2 dates yet this year.
I believe they also have some crossover with the Allentown Hobo Band."
From fellow stumpfer Jeremy, in Bellingham WA:
"My name is Jeremy. I own a small instrument shop in Bellingham WA. Also, I am the new proud owner of my late
Grandpa's Stumpf fiddle. It's been around the block
(since my Dad was a kid (I'm 30 he's 55)), but it still Stumpfs and it still fiddles. So,
I'll be playing it 'till it stops doing both. I named it Bob after my Grandpa.
This instruments has had 3 generations beat on it. It's loud and old and makes no appologies for either."
Stumpfers! Send us your pix and we'll post 'em!
