Felix Barrel’s Pneumatic Guitar

I originally posted this back in Oct 2012, but I was recently contacted by Matt Nolan who informed me that the info in the post wasn't entirely accurate. 'Felix Barrel' was actually the tongue-in-cheek stage name of François Baschet, who was granted both a French and US patent for his invention. Also, he invented it in 1952, not 1955.

The picture of Baschet with his guitar can be found on the website of the Baschet Association, which explains that its invention was just the start of Baschet's long career as a creator of unusual instruments, particularly ones that involved "folding metal sheets into geometric shapes".

Thanks to Matt for the info!

Back in ~~1955~~ 1952, French musician Felix Barrel invented an inflatable guitar. His idea was that it would be easier to travel with because it wouldn't take up much room when deflated. But his invention evidently didn't catch on with other musicians. Today, you can buy inflatable guitars, but they all seem to be marketed as kids' toys.

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Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

     First Posted: Oct 2012
     Reposted By: Alex - Sat Sep 25, 2021
     Category: Music | Patents | 1950s

Comments

Solid body guitars came along in (at least) 1951 so this dude was already exerting negative pressure on the hindmost mammary with his idea.

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 10/05/12 at 09:13 AM

I'll bet he had a topless girlfriend who played an accordion in the same bar.

And another friend who played piano in a marching band.

Posted by KDP on 10/05/12 at 09:29 AM

This adds a new meaning to playing "Air Guitar"

In a bunk house, I would rather listen to a muted guitar than a badly played harmonica!

Posted by BMN on 10/05/12 at 09:46 AM

Just a thunk. If Jimi Hendrix had this guitar at the Montery Pop Festival and filled it with ox-acetylene, it would have been an even more explosive performance. 😊

Posted by BMN on 10/05/12 at 12:32 PM

I guess it's a little better than the cardboard guitar kit.

http://www.amazon.com/Musicmakers-Cardboard-Guitar-KIT/dp/B007OWOAEE/ref=sr_1_8?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1349460644&sr=1-8&keywords=cardboard+guitar

Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 10/05/12 at 02:12 PM

Is that Puff the Magic Dragon's guitar?

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 10/05/12 at 06:25 PM

Ooo, so close! With a little more work, he could've invented the bagpipe guitar!
"Now, play over the fields, far, far away. Not the song! That's where we want you to go play that thing!"

Posted by Captain DaFt on 10/05/12 at 10:04 PM

Thanks to Alex for posting the corrected information. Still good stuff

Posted by Steve E. on 09/25/21 at 02:24 PM

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