What type of controller is this performer using: , is it a german style one with more added to it?

Thanks,
Andy

Yes it looks like a vertical or actually fish controller and German or European marionettes often use this style of controller. If you can find the book "The Marionettes of Barcelona"  it has diagrams of vertical controllers.  I don't think the book is in print anymore but the ISBN is 0951360027. Maybe you can find it in the library.

Another resource would be Marionette Construction by Robert LeRoy Smith. There are only two places that I know of that you can purchase this. One place you can get this The Puppetry Arts Institute in Independence MO. They don't have an on-line store but if you contact them I am sure you could make arrangements to buy it from them and have it sent to you. http://www.hazelle.org/ They have it because Robert lived in Independence and was one of the co-founders of PAI. 

The other place that may have it all though I don't know that they have it in stock is PofA Store. http://store.puppeteers.org/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=25&products_id=59 

Both of these are excellent books and I highly recommend them. Both have quite a few diagrams in them.  Robert's book is actually much more detailed I think and has more diagrams and patterns then The Marionettes of Barcelona.

Thanks for the resouce. I have emailed them and see what they come up with.

Thanks again for your help Shawn,

Andy

Hi Shawn,
I found the Barcelona book and its good and I also found a great book called "The Complete Book of puppet theater". It has a good 30 pages on construction and stringing. Its a pity its so hard to get these books.

Thanks again,
Andy

May I ask where you found the books?  Wast it at the library or did you find some place to buy them?  I've seen "The Marionettes of Barcelona"  before at amazon but normally they have it priced at hundreds of dollars and I am not sure it is worth that. It is common for book sellers to do that and I really don't feel any of them are worth paying that for. I don't have "The Complete Book of puppet theater" but have seen it in the past in another puppeteers library and I aggree it is a good one.   

The main library here in Hong Kong had them. Tiny problem of not being able to borrow them as they are kept in a special section. Maybe because they are out of print?? Not sure. Anyway, I had to took a digital copy of the chapters I liked. The price for these for second hand on Amazon is ridiculous.

Andy

Good I am glad it was the library where you found them. What are  you doing in Hong Kong or is that where you where born.  I guess I assumed by your post and name that you where English or American.

P.S. Just was reading on your site that you won the "Melbourne Performers Fair" award.  Perhaps you are from Australia?

Yeh born in Australia, moved to HK 7 years ago for work,

Andy

I was watching this video: and noticed that this is even a more elaborate controller. Am I correct in saying that most top marionette operators just make there own one? This seems to fit into a standard vertical controller but then has separate controllers for each hands/fingers and has a little swivel trigger for the left hand as well. His timing of the music is so excellent I though the puppet was actually playing.

I am pouring through material trying to figure out how to control these guys. I like the individual finger movements but having 10 strings in front of the face can be an eyesore as well. Here is another vid:

Andy