Return of ... the Zobo.

Ages ago, it seems, we spoke of young Howard's love of the zobo (a simplified vocophone) and playing in a band. The imdomitable S. T. Joshi once remarked that is was some kind of instrument.

You see it here, first. These items are what he was playing, and here are examples of a full-blown zobo band. It surely was a fad or a few years, but this childhood glory (he would have been about 11) made him feel warm when he recalled it.

The Patterson, NJ band dates to 1901 and the other ephemera dates tro 1902.

For the previous post, click here.