Posted 5 years ago
LolainSF
(3 items)
Can anyone hazard a guess as to what this is? It's solid wood, vented and reinforced with dowels and corrugated iron wood fasteners. One side says "Juanito Francisco 1954-1956," and the other side says "John F. Podd." Neither name turns up anything illuminating online.
Possibilities that occurred to me:
- Sports racquet/bat
- Fraternity/fraternal order/schoolroom paddle
- Weapon
- Rug beater
- Mash paddle
But none of those turned up anything even remotely similar on Google.
Your thoughts?
This may be a musical instrument meant to be played like a xylophone.
Try striking the rods on the back side with a drumstick (or something similar) and see what kind of sound you get.
The paddle for the Basque game of Pelota has a similar shape. I could not find any with slots and dowels.
So funny! A friend On Facebook JUST said the same thing! I can't find photos of any vintage pelota paddles online, so I can't say if this is an older style that's not made anymore (which would make sense, as it would be very labor-intensive) or just a one-off, home-made paddle. Thank you for helping to solve the mystery!
It would be helpful to see both sides of the object...will you post pic showing the sides with the dowels?