Excellent thread indeed! I play in the New Roanoke Jug Band, and we have an excellent washboard player, who plays it as is - no spoons, thimbles or extras (just some substantial callouses after 30 years). He is now passing the tradition on to our newest band member, a 21 yr old prodigy who is playing banjo, harp, guitar and washboard, and tambourine on I'll Be Rested. As for the knocking sound in that piece, I wonder if it is Uaroy banging on his brother's guitar while shaking the tambourine?...I saw mention of a National Soap Saver #199 in the thread. We have one of those (for the extra big whap), and a #197 that is the primary washboard. Has anyone seen another model of blue enamel faced Soap Saver?