| Joe Birl is famous among bones players for his plastic molded rhythm bones with the patented grooves (U.S. patent no. 2436283). The finger groove makes the bones more comfortable to hold.
Yes, these are genuine Joe Birl classic plastic Rhythm Bones—the ones with the patented groove that give you a comfortable non-slip grip and keeps your fingers in the right place. Joe patented these bones in 1948. These musical bones are perfect for aspiring young bone players, but nowadays they are scarfed up by collectors.
I learned to play on a set of Joe Birl plastic Rhythm Bones around 20 years ago. They cost $3.75 at the time (I still have the receipt). Unfortunately, the mold broke, so these bones are no longer in production. So the days of cheap Joe Birl plastic bones are gone. Every
now and then, a set of classic Joe Birl plastic Rhythm Bones shows up on eBay. You can get a set for around fifteen dollars if you are lucky. I have seen them go for several times that amount.
This set is in excellent condition and quite playable and may last you many years. But experienced players will tell you they do break. Mel Mercier (a distinguished player from Ireland) is legendary for going through scads of Joe Birl plastic bones. A box filled with an assortment of my own bones went flying a few months ago. Guess which one broke. But we love these little guys and that's the way it goes.
Incidentally, Joe holds the trademark on Rhythm Bones and he kindly allows the Rhythm Bones Society to use the name.
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