Like a puppet with NO strings :o

[RoscoLabri]

Heya all,

I recently dug out an old puppet (not old old, but received it some years ago) and none of the strings are attached (this is because I had to undo the tangled strings). So what I was wondering is if anyone can tell me what goes where ?

This is what I have...

There is a string that is connected to both hands (it loops around)
Another string is connected to both knees (again it loops around)
A single string attached to the back
2 signle strings attached to either side of the head (not tied together).

Now the hand controller thingy is a basic + and there are 4 hooks, 2 on 1 part of the wood at the far ends, and then 2 on the other piece of wood which are slightly closer.

Any ideas ?

 

[Buck-Beaver]

I assume this is a marionette and if so what you need to do is restring it. There are a number of good books on this, try checking your local library. Another option would be to try emailing Jim Gamble, who might be able to help you. Jim is a very nice guy and extremely knowledgable when it comes to marionettes.

Try contacting him via his web site at http://www.jimgamble.com and politely explain your dilemma and ask if he can recommend a good book or resource to learn how to restring a marionette.

 

[RoscoLabri]

So its not going to be simple then ? The puppet itself has strings, its just I need to attach them to the thing you hold in your hand. Was hoping it would be a 10 minute job

 

[Buck-Beaver]

It shouldn't be that hard to do. What is it exactly that you want to know?

 

[RoscoLabri]

In the first post I've put how many different bits of string are attached to the puppet itself. I just need to know if it matters how I hook it up to the Hand Holding thing..(there are 4 hooks).

 

[ravagefrackle]

with out a picture its hard to tell, but it sounds like its a very simple marionette, if you can come up with a picture that would be helpfull.

 

[RoscoLabri]

ok I'll get on to it, and post it soonish.

 

[RoscoLabri]

ok, the following is the thing you hold in your hand...

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/1273/handhold4ze.jpg

And this is the puppet...

http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/7576/hanzpuppet2yc.jpg

I'll describe how the strings go on as I couldn't get it all in the picture.


From the head are 2 single bits of string (not attached to each other).

The back is a single bit of string.

The hands are connected together (1 end of the string is in left hand, the other end is in the right hand).

The same goes for the knees/legs (1 end of the string is in left leg, the other end is in the right leg).

 

[Melonpool]

Are you sure there isn't another missing part of the controller? Just about every marionette I've ever seen has a single bar controller to control the legs. This way, the legs can move indepedently of the rest of the body while walking.

Steve

EDIT:

Here's an illustration showing a traditional controller and how the strings would line up on it:

http://www.melonpool.com/BLC/pg96.gif

it's from the book "Marionettes: How to Make and Work Them" by Helen Fling

 

[ravagefrackle]

what you have a is a very simple marrionette,

for stringing it here is what i would do.

start with the head string, i think those will go to the 2 in the middle are , the ones closeest togother., make sure they are balanced.

next i would do the back string , again make sure it is balanced.

the hand string will loop up through the screw eye in the front , you should have enough slack to let the hands hang at the puppets side.

finaly the legs on close inspection of the control it looks like u have some holes that are on the same bar as the head strings, i think u might be missing some srew eyes, or maybe the holes go clear thru, either way i would put them through thier, or better yet as Melonpool suggest you could make a new "LEG BAR, it should be about the ssame length as the other bars, put srew eys , or make a slot in the wood at the end to wrap the string in, it can be romved to give u better movment,

hope all the helps.