Jig Dolls, Limberjacks or Les Gigueux
including:
Dancin' Dolls and Walkin' Mules

Jig Dolls or Les Gigueux are old and established traditional wooden or tin-plate 'toys' for adults and children alike.

Basically they are dolls with loose limbs that step dance or 'jig' on the end of a vibrating board or platform just like a real step or clog dancer.

Dancing dolls have always been popular street entertainment for hundreds of years. In old 18'th and 19'th c. London they were frequently seen operated by street entertainers or buskers. In the early 20'th c. old soldiers from the Great War sometimes busked with them to supplement their meagre war pensions.

It has been recorded that dancing dolls were first brought over to England from Italy by young itinerant musicians probably as early as the 1500s. They were known as a 'Poupee a la Planchette' or 'Marionettes a la Planchette' or 'Les Petites Marionettes.' These were dancing dolls or puppets operated by a horizontal string attached to the musician's leg, and which 'danced' somewhat randomly on a board or 'planchette' on the ground as the musician tapped his foot as in the late 19th c. engraving on the left.

Sometimes the dolls or puppets hanging from the strings or rods would also be fitted to levers or wires as part of a framework of musical instruments played as a 'one man band.' It is thought that the dancing dolls operated by 'Seth Davy' were of this type.

Marionettes a la planchette on the ground were, and indeed still are, a popular street entertainment throughout Europe, e.g. in Ghent (Belgium), in Cologne (Germany), and elsewhere.

There is an old U.S. patent from 1864 whereby the doll hangs from an elastic thread round its neck which is then plucked to cause the doll to dance; see: US Pat. 43759.

Many a doll from the mid-1800s right through to the present time was supported by a -shaped wire fastened to its back or head, with the other end fixed to the static end of a springy board. The doll's feet would just rest on the free end of the board, so that when the board vibrated the doll danced.

It would not take too much imagination to replace the supporting wire with a wooden dowel rod fixed into a hole in the back of the doll's body. The doll would be held so that it's feet just rested on the free end of a springy board, again dancing when the board vibrated. The oldest patent yet discovered that describes what is today known as a jig doll dates from 1863; see US Pat. 40740. [Note that this does not imply that jig dolls originated in the USA, it is just that the old US patents that are online go back to the early 1800s, whereas the UK patents only go back to the late 1800s.]

An old doll patented in December 1863 and described as an American Painted Wood Jigger Toy was sold recently by auction.

The East Anglian Traditional Music Trust reports that the earliest English jig doll found to date, a dancing one held with a stick in a hole in its back, is from the Victorian Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace dating from 1851. "It is a female figure dressed in a skirt, petticoat, bodice and shawl, and is now in the Cliffe Castle Museum, Keighley, Yorkshire." No photograph is available.

There are quite a few really old jig dolls either already sold in auctions or currently listed in live auctions here: LiveAuctioneers - search for "limberjacks" or "dancing doll" or "dancing toy" etc. - for both 'Live' and 'Sold' listings. [Note that the use of the term 'limberjack' in these auctions is purely generic and is not indicative of the use of that term in the 19'th / early 20'th centuries; neither does it imply that a jointed doll offered for sale is loose limbed and 'dances.']

Today home made and commercial versions can be seen and purchased in the UK, USA, Canada (esp. Quebec), some parts of Asia (Japan and Taiwan), Australia and New Zealand. But surprisingly not in Ireland.

I first came across jig dolls when I was at university in Loughborough (1966-71), and when I was working for British Rail in Derby. At that time a folk duo Jacqui & Bridie were touring the Midlands. They had with them some jig doll replicas given by Jean Ritchie from her Appalachian family toys.

Then in the 1970s, when I was living in New Zealand, a visiting Canadian lady by the name of Margot told me about those that she had seen in Canada and especially in Quebec. From then on I determined to acquire one or two. In the mid-1970s one of the first I purchased was unique as 'the man in the iron mask' from Sydney Folk Festival in Australia. Then in the 1980-90s, as I travelled the world as a member of BA staff, I built up quite a collection.

Now I have three Mr. Jollyboy jig dolls from the early 1900s, and also many more modern jig dolls from all over England, from the Appalachians (USA), from Quebec (Canada), and even from Sydney (Australia). These are all used to entertain kids and adults at barn dances and festivals. I also have an amazing marionette of myself in the costume of the Reading Cloggies that operates a jig doll that in turn also operates a jig doll. This was made under commission from Ted & Kath Beresford.

Then in the 1980/90s, when I was involved with the Reading Cloggies and their annual Festival of Step and Clog Dance, I met the inimitable Pat and Rennie Pickles who also had a large collection of jig dolls. For nearly every Festival Pat would drive down from Yorkshire to set up an exhibition of these. After Rennie passed away Pat had a marionette puppet made by Ted & Kath Beresford that depicted Rennie operating a jig doll just as Rennie used to do. In the video [*] of 'Pat Pickles' Jig Doll Party' Pat operates this to good effect. [*] Email me for details - CJB.

To purchase your own jig doll(s) craft stalls at Folk Festivals are the best places initially. At these you can see the dolls and try them out. Craft Fairs may have them too - but you'll have to search every stall. Some modern toy shops may sell them. Or better you can contact the makers listed below, expect to pay between £50 and £100 for a hand-carved and painted doll.

There are some cheaper factory made versions which lack any carving or decoration - they would be good to start with - but usually they don't dance very well, but you could personalise one by whittling some features onto it and then painting it. Here is an amazing painted version by one Bob Horner.

Sometimes an older doll can be purchased from a specialist toy antique shop (at a price), but usually it is rare for a general antique shop to sell them even if the owner knows what they are.

Or you could try eBay. But beware of purchasing from the USA - recently I was hit by one scam see: Jig Doll Wars on eBay. And whilst a doll may be cheap initially, charges by UK customs and the Royal Mail / Parcel Force can be outrageously high, even for what can be deemed to be simply a kid's toy.

Some antique clockwork tin-plate jiggers can fetch many hundreds if not thousands of pounds (and dollars)!! Here's a link to a great Jigging Sailor on YouTube, priced on eBay at a 'buy now' price of £566 (=$950).

o United Kingdom

In the UK a Jig Doll usually goes by that name, or maybe any of the following: Dancing Doll/Man - Clogging Man - Busker's Puppet - Clogger - Jigger - etc.

There was an early (but not the earliest) UK patent no. 7725 describing a make of jig doll that was manufactured and sold as the 'celebrated' Mr. Jollyboy by the British company Dover Toys. This patent has been renumbered as GB 190707725 A.

The standard version can be seen on the right (thanks to Chris Harvey for the photo).

One such 'standard' doll came up for auction recently misnamed as: "Two dancing limberjack toys" - of the two dolls depicted the one on the right has the typical Mr. Jollyboy-type legs and feet; and it has been customised with a hat!

The 'de luxe' version of Mr. Jollyboy, based on the same patent no. 7725, can be seen on the left. The oval head is mounted on a spring which adds to the movement.

Just recently a different version of a 'celebrated' Mr. Jollyboy came up for auction on eBay. It was made by the British toy company 'Speako.'

Mr. Jollyboys were sold by mail-order by Copland & Lye's, who also sold a dancing toy called Happy Fanny - a cross between a jig doll and a marionette a la planchette.

A Mrs. Jollygirl has been recently discovered, however it is now thought that this was a home-made 'one-of' version (thanks to Chris Harvey for the photo).

An instruction sheet was always included in the Mr. Jollyboy box, such as this one - page 1 / page 2.

The sheets also recommended various 78rpm records that could be used as music for Mr. Jollyboy to dance to.  One example lists: Darktown Dandies - banjo solo by Olly Oakley # Hornpipe Medley - concertina solo by Alexander Prince # Whistling Rufus - concertina solo by Alexander Prince. Another instruction sheet lists: Lumbrin Luke - banjo solo by Olly Oakley (MP3 at Archive.org / YouTube) # Toronto Jig - banjo solo by Olly Oakley (MP3 at Archive.org) # Fidgety Phil - ?

In the early 1900s, there were also a number of music sheets issued with song(s) and tune(s) entitled "Mr. Jollyboy." (See: Mr. Jollyboy Two-Step below). Copies of these have been located in the British Library and the National Library of Australia. Olly Oakley also recorded one banjo tune called Mr.Jollyboy (YouTube) and Whistling Rufus (YouTube). There is only one recording of Fidgety Phil on the web at Ragtime Soundfiles.

Further info. about Olly Oakley can be found at Homage To Oakley - Part 2; and here about Alexander Prince.

o USA (incl. Appalachia)

In the USA, a Jig Doll would be called a: Dancing Doll/Man - Paddle Puppet - Stick Puppet - Limberjack  or Limberjim or Limberjill or Limbertoy - etc.

A commercial version from the 1930s was called: Dancin' Dan and Dancin' Dina 'one of the famous family of wonder wooden tap dancers' copyrighted by the Associated Syndicate company of Des Moines, Iowa (see right). Usually its head was on a spring, and in some examples its waist was also jointed with a spring.

Then there was Steppin' Sam made by the Steppin' Sam Co., 4458 Griscom St., Philadelphia, PA. On the board there is an imprint which states a copyright of 1938.

Yet another commerical version was a Mr. Bojangles (Bill Robinson) made by the Clown Toy Manufacturing Co., Brooklyn, New York.

Mr.Tap'n'Go was another commercial version from the late 1960s made by the Triple R Machine Co. in Burbank, CA. On the left is Pat Pickles dancing a Mr. Tap'N'Go at the 50th anniversary party at Cecil Sharp House for the English/Irish folk dance band 'The Rakes.'

Yet another version was Dapper Dan or see Dapper Dan.

And another was "JIGGING SAM, the Tap Dancing WONDER. AMERICA'S Most Popular "ENTERTAINER."

Tapping Tim was a home-made electrical version described in Popular Mechanics.

Other versions were called: Jazbo Jim - Dancin' Jo - Dancin' Minstrel - etc.

Note that in the Appalachians the general term amongst the old-timers was 'dancing man,' however the term 'limberjack' may been introduced in the late 1800s when such home made toys started to  became commercially produced. The term may have come from its loose 'limber' method of dancing; and 'Jack' was the generic name for any boy (ref. the tradition of Jack tales). Some of the dolls from Appalachia are beautifully hand carved (whittled) and painted such as this Black Americana Whittled Limberjack from Berea Christmas Country Dance School in 2002. No patents use the term 'limberjack.'

Somewhat politically incorrect, but part of what is now termed collectable 'Black Americana,' are wooden, whittled, and painted step or tap dancing toys such as the 'Dancin' Ballerina' that is seen regularly on various auction sites and on eBay (see right). Earlier versions can date right back to the mid-1800s and may be earlier.

In the early 1950s the civil rights organisation, the radical NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), forced the removal of all such dolls from toy shop shelves certainly in New York; ref: The Case for the South - Page 57 - by William Douglas Workman - 1960. "In August of 1950, a dancing Negro doll, made in Japan and depicting a Negro figure standing beneath a Lenox Avenue-125 Street sign (see left), was withdrawn from the New York toy market. The Associated Press reported that the jig-dancing doll was removed from store shelves when the NAACP complained that it 'served to perpetuate an old stereotyped conception of negroes which recent developments in race relations have all but banished.'" These were 'Made in Occupied Japan' with US patent numbers. Street sign marks Lenox Ave and 125th St, which marks a Subway entrance. These two streets today are also known as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Malcom X Blvd.

It may have been at about this time that the term 'limberjack' was introduced as a more acceptable term for the black jigging toys / dolls.

o Canada (incl. Quebec)

In Quebec, Canada, the French-Canadians refer to these as: Les Gigueux - Bonhomme Gigueur or Gigueux - Bon Hommes - Gigueux de Bois - Step Dancing Doll - 'Marionnette et instrument de percussion' - etc. (see left).

Some many even have traditional costume including the traditional woolen woven waist band - ceinture_fléchée - worn by folk and step dancers (see Les Sortilèges - top right).

Sometimes one (or more) gigueur can feature as a percussion instrument for a folk dance band, even to the extent of the plank on which a doll 'dances' being fitted with a small mic. connected to the p.a.

Recently an example from London, Toronto was featured on eBay manufactured by Hobby Nobby, Maitland St., London, Ontario (see right).

o Europe (ex-UK)

In France the term Jack Agile is used.

And in Ireland? Well curiously there are no references to jig dolls in Ireland, despite the strong tradition(s) of step dancing in that country.

o Far East

According to sales of jig dolls on eBay (under various guises and names) commercial versions have recently been produced in Taiwan and Japan (and most likely China) as representative of American folk-culture usually to commemorate various sporting or cultural event.

o Searches

The above wording can all be search terms on Google, Yahoo, YouTube, eBay, and on various auction sites such as LiveAuctioneers, etc.

Also try searches on eBay such as "dancing+doll" - this will also pick up mechanical dancing toys some of which could be automated dancing dolls.

Searches can also be made on Google Books using something like "dancing+toy".

Try searching Yahoo - Images for: "limberjack" / "limberjacks" / "jig+doll" / "jig+dolls" / "dancing+doll" / "dancing+dolls" / "tap+dancing+toy" / "bojangles" / "dancing+minstrel" etc.

o Varieties of Dolls

But jig dolls are essentially homemade, and now-a-days you can see versions like costumed sailors, costumed folk-dancers (like those in the picture from Les Sortilèges - a folk dance performing group from Quebec), African-Americans,  Native Americans, morris dancers (Cotswold / Costwold and NW Clog), English clog dancers (clogs = wooden-soled shoes), Punch & Judy, clowns, Uncle Sam, Cowboy, Confederate Soldier, Charlie Chaplin, "Tommy Atkins" (a British WW1 soldier), Adolf Hitler (on YouTube), a Scotsman in a kilt, Lady Godiva, Santa, Henry the Dog, other animals such as horse / horse / horse / horse, pigs, bulls , chickens / chickens, dogs / dogs / dogs, frogs / frogs, bears, dinosaurs, a skeleton , a mule, and even a Spudhead, etc.

Professional puppeteer Ted Beresford makes wonderful gaily painted jig dolls and incredible marionettes that also operate jig dolls.

Some Punch and Judy Professors also have jig dolls to attract an audience. One has a jig doll of Charlie Chaplin which may sometimes be seen at the annual Covent Garden Punch & Judy Festival in London.

In the UK many folk dance bands have a jig doll that may come out to entertain the audience in the interval of a barn dance. This is always a popular 'act' for any kids (and adults) present.

At other times you might see someone busking in the street with a jig doll. See 'Seth Davy' below.

If there is a live music session in a pub in England then a jig doll might make an appearance to step dance for the crowd. Equally likely in the past a regular feature of such a pub session would be step dancing by members of the audience. Now with the latest draconian and expensive licencing regulations in England, playing live music and step dancing is largely illegal and therefore banned. So in effect even 'playing' jig dolls in pubs or in public has been out-lawed by the English Government!

Some instructions can be found here: Dolls in Canada - Instructions p.112 / 113 / 114 / 115 [pages may not always show].

An excellent index of magazine articles can be found at NLEINDEX. To obtain a copy of any magazine article contact your local public library or the publisher.

The basic versions of jig dolls are the homemade varieties with joints at the arms, elbows and sometimes the hands; or additionally with joints at the hips, knees and sometimes the ankles. The best dancing dolls have ankle joints with the toes slightly hanging below the heels.

Of course the nicest jig dolls are the homemade variety, sometimes whittled with a simple pocket knife.

Jig doll are still made in the UK. Their charm, and what makes them collectable, is that being mainly homemade nearly every single one is different.

Beechen Cliff is one enterprising school that includes woodworking lessons on making jig dolls in the curriculum.

In the Appalachian Mountains of the USA such toys were made locally in the mid-1800s right through to the present time. In olden times children's toys were essentially home made, and such a dancing doll might be a child's treasured possession for many years. This still living tradition is illustrated in this remarkable set of slides: Dancin' Dolls and Walkin' Mules.

One mistake some folks make is to glue the stick into the back of the doll. This is not a good idea and it makes packing up &/or posting difficult!!

o Support

o a wooden stick/dowel in a hole in the back
o a wire in a hole in the back perhaps with a screw thread
o a stick with a hook at one end linking to screw eye on top of the head
o strings from a cross-frame held above like a conventional puppet
o a string through the body one end of which is fastened to say a chair leg whilst the other end is tied to a musician's leg (e.g. a marrionette a la planchette)
o a marionette-type puppet which operates a smaller jig doll via conventional puppet strings

o Decoration

o a doll of bare wood (maybe varnished)
o a fully painted doll
o a fully clothed doll

o Joints

o a doll jointed at the shoulders, hips and knees
o a doll also jointed at the elbows, wrists and ankles

o Board / Planchette / Paddle

o a plane rectangular board
o a specially shaped board perhaps for two dolls at once
o a board for sitting on sideways
o a board for sitting on which comes out forwards between the legs
o a stationary or vibrating platform, i.e. automated somehow

o Vibrations

o the board vibrated by the free hand/fist just forward of where the board is sat upon
o the board flicked with the fingers where the doll dances
o some kind of machanical linkage to a mechanism, or maybe even sound waves, to cause the board or platform to vibrate
o the board or dancing platform remains still and the body of the doll is vibrated by an oscillating rod passing vertically through its body

o Energy

o the energy to vibrate the board, platform or doll can be a human beating his/her fist or fingers in time to the music
o a simple clockwork or an electric motor to vibrate the platform or the doll itself
o dry falling sand driving a paddle wheel linked to a vibrating mechanism, i.e. a dry sand engine
o a microphone that picks up sound waves and converts them into the vibrations of a platform or loud speaker

o Unusual Versions

o as in a whirligig / whirligig / whirligig: i.e. the wind blows a windmill, which turns a shaft, which causes a loose limbed doll to jig on a board
o as produced by the Edison Gramophone Company and the National Toy Co. for attaching to a 78 rpm phonograph or gramophone - price about $1! This was apparently patented on March 16, 1915: US Pat. 1131895. Another patent was dated June 17, 1920: GB 144475 A

o Etc., etc.

o Patents

It is apparent that jig dolls firmly come from the various step dance and clog dance traditions of the British Isles. It has been opined that in the British Isles in the 1800s step dancing and clog dancing was the most popular form of self-produced entertainment. This was emulated in the USA where African-Americans became especially adept at this dance form.

And so the appearance of step dancing dolls for entertainment is no surprise, especially since 'marionettes a la planchette' were (and still are) popular for many centuries throughout Europe. Dancing dolls were produced in wood or tinplate, they were hand operated or mechanised, the simpler ones were easy to make at home, and they were all immensely popular - so much so that it seems that every 'improvement' warranted a patent!!

All patents are now online, the US patents dating back to the early 1800s, the European patents dating back to the late 1800s. However this doesn't imply that the US first invented jig dolls.

The earliest patents for jig dolls date from about the mid-1800s. As already mentioned the oldest patent yet discovered dates from 1863; US Pat. 40740. An old doll patented in December 1863 and described as an American Painted Wood Jigger Toy was sold by auction recently. From various auctions, some old dancing dolls may date from the early 1800s.

It could be that these dancing dolls were created by sailors on the old windjammers, who when becalmed whittled (carved) these step dancing figures for their kids back home. The reasoning for this is that it was an English Master Mariner, one Harold Percy Rugg (of 127 Station Street, Burton-on-Trent in England) who on 14-Mar-1904 filed the first known English patent for a dancing doll. The actual patent document with diagrams is here: GB 190406198 A.

A few years later an American electrician, one Harry William Thornton, Electrician (of Winona, County of Winona, State of Minnesota, United States of America) filed a similar patent on 06-August-1906 in the USA. The actual patent document with diagrams is here: US Pat. 845985.

Then on 02-Mar-1907 he also took out a similar patent in the UK. The actual patent document with diagrams is here:  GB 190707725 A. It appears that this was eventually turned into a commercial version called Mr.Jollyboy by Dover Toys, of which examples can often be seen for sale on eBay.

o Other Patents

All varieties of these dancing toys can be seen in the various patents for improvements of same. Usually these involve some kind of 'improvement' to the mechanical automation of vibrating the plank or plate upon which the doll dances; or maybe 'improved' mechanisms to rapidly vibrate the doll itself up and down with the feet just touching a static plate.

Over 450 possible patents can be found in the USA: US Patents. Note that no patents use the term 'limberjack.'

Similar interesting patents can be found in the UK: UK Patents.

It appears that these 'improvements' continued to be made from the late 1800s and indeed still continue right through to the present day. This is a particularly interesting one from 10-April-1975: US Pat. 3990178

Jig dolls usually dance on a thin vibrating plank. The operator then usually sits on one end of the plank on a rigid table top or a firm wooden stool. It can be placed so that it projects forwards between the knees, or out to one side. It needs to be long enough and springy enough to vibrate in time to the taps of the working hand and in time to the music. The doll is then usually held by a stick or wire protruding from its back or head, so that its feet just touch the vibrating end of the plank. That's the easy bit. The hard bit is making the doll dance in time to the rhythm of the music; and also to swing its arms around (if they are so jointed at the shoulders). Like the bodhran playing a jig doll well is actually quite difficult and requires much practice.

For further information on how to 'play' jig dolls see: Chris Harvey's Jig Doll Circus - Tutorial.

Other dolls may be held by strings above the plank rather like a puppet. In fact a puppet with loose wooden feet makes an ideal jig doll.

Other mechanisms can make the doll 'dance' up and down such as a clockwork motor or electric solenoid vibrating a metal disc upon which the doll is held; there used to be one of these in the window of the 'Mechanical Cabaret' in Covent Garden, London, now alas closed and moved to Southwold Pier; ur by a clockwork driven vibrating rod inserted into the body of a tin-plate doll with the feet resting upon a fixed metal disc. I have a brand new tinplate duck with an umbrella that jigs up and down on a drum - possibly made in Germany.

Or even trickling dry sand can drive a paddle wheel that in turn vibrates a platform can make a static doll dance. Ron Fuller used to make these, and they may be seen on the Mechanical Cabaret web site, and in the accompanying YouTube video - Dancing Man Sand Toy.

And here's a Sand Motor that runs a Dancing Monkey from Popular Mechanics - May - 1930.

There was even a type that danced on an old fashioned wind-up phonograph or gramophone playing a 78 rpm record; the vibrations from the record groove caused a platform to vibrate, and thereby the doll's the feet, legs and arms to 'jig' around. See: the Edison Gramophone Company and the National Toy Co.

o Local Makers (UK)

o Bernard Pilgrim - kimbo18@blueyonder.co.uk - makes wonderful dolls by private commission only.
o Chris Harvey - makes wonderful jig dolls of many types some in side/club kit specially commissioned by morris or clog dancers - site also includes videos of the dolls dancing.
o Cyril Hobbins - HobbinsC@aol.com - jig dolls of many types including a unique jigging mule called 'Hobbin Dobbin,' he is a no-tangle puppet that can dance on a board - also  'Marrionett's-a-la-Planchettes,' the large Jig Dolls that are suspended from a long line attached to a musician's knee - also designs and make Folk Art Whirligigs - author of Traditional Toys: Their History and How to MakeThem - Jig Dolls (Feb. 2007), see pages 81 to 82.
o Goff Evans (RIP) - made many limberjacks including a Mr.Jollyboy (modern repro.), a Santa Jack, and a Spudhead, as well as a dog and a frog - these are well described in Goff's publicity leaflet (kindly sent to me by Chris Harvey) - these are now being sold by Harperscraft.
o Joe Pattison - joe@tudcot.fsnet.co.uk -  makes wonderful dolls by private commission only.
o Ron Fuller - Laxfield, Suffolk IP13 8DX - makes wonderful dolls by private commission only.
o Ted & Kath Beresford's Puppets - makers of some of the most delightful jig dolls and puppets.

o Books

o 'The Brightest of Entertainers' by Pat & Rennie Pickles is the only known book specifically about jig dolls. Buy it online at: East Anglian Traditional Music Trust Online Shop. A new revised edition is in preparation for publication in 2010.
o Dolls in Canada - Instructions p.112 / 113 / 114 / 115 [pages may not always show].

o Making Mad Toys & Mechanical Marvels in Wood by Rodney Frost (Oct 2007)

o Traditional Toys: Their History and How to MakeThem - Jig Dolls by Cyril Hobbins (Feb. 2007), see pages 81 to 82.
o Whacky Toys, Whirligigs & Whatchamacallits - Limberjacks by Rodney Frost (2002), see pages 9 to 22. Also see this Dancing Limberjack on YouTube
o Google Books - e.g. a search using "dancing doll" or "limberjacks" etc. - lists many books referencing jig dolls (or whatever), but sadly due to copyright restrictions few allow the full texts to be viewed.

o UK Sources

o Abbey House Museum & Kirkstall Abbey, Abbey Road, Kirkstall, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS5 3EH. Has a "busker's jig-doll, with red hair, yellow face and blue body, legs below knees of striped tin, clog-like feet; the puppet was held by a horizontal rod fixed to the middle of back and 'danced' on a wood board held by the busker sitting and holding the rod between his legs. c. 1900."
o Bethnal Green Childrens' Museum in East London. This is now part of the Victoria and Albert Museum. They used to have a number of jig dolls and mechanical 'jiggers' on show, but since a big revamp by some local 'fine arts' students (armed with a Lottery grant), most of these seem to have been relegated back to the store room. They do have a standard-type Mr. Jollyboy and box still on display though. It is also rumoured that they have a doll made in the trenches of World War I, carved to represent a "Tommy Atkins" (not on display). It would probably be safe to say that the dolls that they have are never 'danced' out.
o Blaxhall Ship (public house) - Jig Doll Competition Was held on Sunday March 15, 2009. Entry open to all comers. Prizes and medals and as much free beer as the competing dancers could drink. Musicians of varying competency present but owners could bring his/her own accompaniment. This may be repeated in 2010.
o Chris Harvey's Jig Doll Circus, includes videos of jig dolls made by Chris, and also a tutorial page on how to 'play' them.
o Cliffe Castle Museum, Keighley, Yorkshire has been reported by the East Anglian Traditional Music Trust to have one of the earliest jig dolls yet discovered. This is one from the Victorian Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace dating from 1851. "It is a female figure dressed in skirt, petticoat, bodice and shawl." A request for a picture has been ignored.
o Copland & Lye's 1909 Christmas Gifts Toy Catalogue, Libraries Information and Learning, Glasgow City Council. It features a Mr. Jollyboy jig doll at 1s 11½d (postage 4d) - [approx. 10p / 1.5p in today's currency]; and a Happy Fanny dancer (suspended from a string) at 10½d (postage 3d) - [approx. 4p / 1.5p].
o East Anglian Traditional Music Trust - Big Jig. Sometimes holds gatherings of jig dolls and their owners.
o Gallery05
o Lotzdoll
o Mechanical Cabaret - sand toys incl. Dancing Man Sand Toy on YouTube.
o Museum of the Home (recently closed), 7 Westgate Hill, Pembroke, Pembrokeshire SA71 4LB. Had "five jig dolls (or busker's puppets)." Their whereabouts are now unknown.
o Rhythmdancer - includes a Quicktime film
o Toypost
Warwick County Museum Service. Recently Cyril Hobbins emailed: "Last year [2009] my large collection of old and interesting wooden toys, dolls and games, was purchased by Warwick County Museum Service, together with my huge research library. They are now permanently available to students and researchers by appointment; for the past year many have been on display in a dedicated room. The collection contains one very old and beautiful 'Folk Art Jig Doll' plus others purchased from eBay and made by myself."
o Woodspinners
o Youngsters carve puppets for Skipton's Festival Jig. A new generation of the jig doll – the folk art puppet which has nearly becoming extinct – will populate Skipton Puppet Festival next month. “The Skipton Skippers”, created during workshops with year six and seven girls who will attend Skipton Girls’ High School in September, will be seen doing a mass jig at the festival hub site on the Coach Street car park. Craven Herald Pioneer - 7th August 2009.

o Australian Sources

o The Bush Music Club Inc., Sydney - Australia's oldest folk club. 'This article about 'Jig Dolls' was written by David Johnson and originally published in Singabout #58, December 1986, p. 51.

o Canadian Sources

o Dolls in Canada by By Marion E. Hislop, Dundurn Press Ltd (1997). Includes instructions to make a step dancing doll [pages may not always show].
o Érablière du Lac-Beauport - French
o Érablière du Lac Beauport - English
o Faire Tyme Toys.com Dancing man, horse, pig, bull, sheep, chicken; includes plans to make them, and videos.
o Johnyboy - Bonhomme gigueur - with animation & video
o Les Sortileges.com - folk and step dance school, they used to sell limberjacks
o Musantiqua Inc - Limberjacks
o Lois Siegel - Fiddle Farmers - Unusual Instruments - scroll down for 'Dancing Limberjack'
o Luc Laroche - Conteur Québécois
o Musantiqua.ca - Limberjack
o Rigadon - 'Ti-Jean' - mascot of the Rigadon series.
o Rigadon - Chantons - "The CD winds up with lively traditional tunes to make both you and the "Ti-gigueux" want to dance!"

o USA Sources

o AndysFrontHall.com - Limbertoys
o Asheville News - Lumberjacks
o BargainJohn.com - Black Memorabilia - 'Dapper Dan Dancer' Wooden Dancing Toy.
o CivilWarPreservations - Dancing Dan
o CivilWarPreservations - Jazzbo-Jim
o Digital Video Research Archive at Boston University - then search for 'doll' (singular)
o Elderly.com - Limberjacks includes plans to make a Limbermule and a Limberjack
o Etsy - Limberjack Man / Limberjack Dog / Limberjack Frog
o Etsy - Music CD Sing and play your limberjack! These folk songs are just the right tempo and rhythm for Limberjack dancing! Sing along and play with the CD!
o FindArticles - Remnants of a Lost Era: Appalachian Primitive Dolls
o Gustafsonzook - Limberjacks
o Hakes - Auction
o Hendersonville News - Lumberjacks
o Keith Young - include Quicktime movies and Dressed up Limberjacks.
o Lewis Lamb - traditional Appalachian fiddle player and limberjack whittler. Makes wonderful dolls by private commission only.
o Maggiesansone.com
o Makers of Magic: The Faces of Carolina Puppetry - A documentary that introduces some of the talented puppeteers who live in the Carolinas. Features Clyde Hollifield (a maker of limberjacks), and others. Traces use of puppets from simple Appalachian toys to giant street puppets.
o Making-Toys-Mechanical-Marvels-Wood - Amazon.com Includes instructions for making jig dolls.
o Popular Mechanics - 1930 - p.839 - Sand Motor Runs Dancing Monkey
o Popular Mechanics - 1958 - p.147 - Electronic Tapping Tim
o Mr.Tap'n'Go made by the Triple R Machine Co., Burbank, CA.
o Mr.Tap'n'Go - Japan made by the Triple R Machine Co., Burbank, CA.
o MyDearDolly.com - 11 1/2" tall, early, black dancing stick man worked by a metal rod, which is attached to the back. Figure is completely jointed and entirely made of wood with painted features and clothing. Very unusual toy is completely original and a fine example of a late 19th century folk toy. Perfect cond. with no repainting.
o Nancy Music.com - Henry-the-Dog - with song and video (delightful).
o Nan Hoffman.com - includes a frog, dog, and dinosaur!
o NLEINDEX - An excellent index of magazine articles on how to make your own jig doll.
o Planet of the Geeks.com - Making a Limberjack.
o Riverlark.com Our limberjacks are made of cherry, a native American hardwood, and come with a stick, tapping board and instructions.
o Rochester Folk Art Guild - Limberjacks
o Ross Sutter Recordings - Cherry or walnut limberjacks. Also does limberjack building workshops for schools or other groups.
o Story-Lovers - Limberjack
o TCpuppet
o Terre pis Ciel- traditional arts master Fred Légère usually plays the harmonica to accompany his dancing horse and his "t-bonhommes de bois" which he has carved.
o ToysFromTimesPast
o Trocadero

o Videos and Films (UK/USA)

o "Appalachian Journey" - Alan Lomax travels through the Southern Appalachians investigating the songs, dances, and religious rituals of the descendents of the Scotch-Irish frontiers people who have made the mountains their home for centuries. Features a limberjack and traditional step dancing.
o 'Pat Pickles' Jig Doll Party' - [home movie video - approx. one hour long - email me for details - CJB.]
o YouTube (excellent examples of how not to play a jig doll / limberjack and a few good ones!!)
o GoogleVideo (more excellent examples of how not to play a jig doll / limberjack and a few good ones!!)

o Wikipedia / Folkopedia / Folkipedia

o Jig_doll - poorly written, little research done
o Limberjack - very poorly written, no research done
o Jig_Dolls - little text, incorrect category