The Hohner Marine Band was introduced in 1896 and is probably the most commonly played harmonica in the world, which is why shortcuts in its manufacturing process had such profound repercussions. This harmonica features U.S. Patent #588920 for an improvement in mouth-harmonicas, submitted by Jacob Hohner. If the harmonica has been lying around in someone's attic for a few years, you also have a chance of inhaling some other tasty delicacies. And just like automobiles and watches, when it comes to harmonicas, Germany is synonymous with quality as well. Why are Suriname, Belize, and Guinea-Bissau classified as "Small Island Developing States"? For more, you can check out my full review of the Hohner Blues Band. Next, whether it's a solid pin or hollow tube, tap it in the center with a center punch or large nail. My draw notes seemed to have got stuck, so I cleaned them with witch hazel (maybe surgical spirit would do, or lemon juice, but we have run out of lemons) and lifted each gently with the Honner tools to ensure they were moving freely up and down in the reed plate. it won't stick to its place. 1896, W/ ORIGINAL PACKAGING. If you get it wet enough for the comb to expand (by dunking it in water) the wood may not even dry back to its original size. Legendary Hohner Marine Band Harp. All of the above raises the inevitable question of hygiene - is it safe to play something that has been in someone else's mouth? All parts are thoroughly cleaned & sterilised before custom work is done. We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. Money no object? Old harmonicas which have pins or rivets typically have pear-wood combs however, and soaking them is not advisable. The wood comb sandwiched by the visible edges of the brass reed plates, topped with the stainless steel cover plates is a winning combination. For example, a brand new Hohner Marine Band that rolled off the production line last week will still feature medals with the dates 1871, 1873, 1876 and 1881. (function (w,d) {var loader = function () {var s = d.createElement("script"), tag = d.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.src="https://cdn.iubenda.com/iubenda.js"; tag.parentNode.insertBefore(s,tag);}; if(w.addEventListener){w.addEventListener("load", loader, false);}else if(w.attachEvent){w.attachEvent("onload", loader);}else{w.onload = loader;}})(window, document); Here's a folder containing all the photos that you may want to see. $25.00 + $5.85 shipping. Don't be afraid. You're in! I guess it is possible that anything resembling a Jewish symbol would have been risky to display as part of a trademark during those times, but I am aware of no evidence that the Hohner family were Jewish, besides which they also used five and eight pointed stars in some of their designs. Although the WIEN medals keep their single circle outline, there is a partial circle of dots inside this outline. To make space for this, the medals are all slightly smaller and have smaller lettering around them. Learn how your comment data is processed. On the upper cover, the lettering is fractionally larger than on the previous examples, both for the name MARINE BAND and the Hohner signature. Sold out. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. I just had to ask the question again, and please don't vote it up, it's kinda the same as the other one, I don't want any reputation. The Harmonica Company is the trading name of The Harmonica World Ltd. You can hear the sound of the Fender Blues Deluxe versus the Hohner Blues Band in this excerpt from my Fender Blues Deluxe Review. Likewise, there were various changes in the alloy used for the reeds and different reed profiles being used, although the lengths and widths of the reeds remained constant. (function (w,d) {var loader = function () {var s = d.createElement("script"), tag = d.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.src="https://cdn.iubenda.com/iubenda.js"; tag.parentNode.insertBefore(s,tag);}; if(w.addEventListener){w.addEventListener("load", loader, false);}else if(w.attachEvent){w.attachEvent("onload", loader);}else{w.onload = loader;}})(window, document); Hey! Old herings super 20 were like that too, using rivets. Sweetwater Savings: $ 30 .01 MSRP: $ 115 .00. M Hohner Marine Band Harmonica no 1896 Key Of C With Original Case (2) 2 product ratings - M Hohner Marine Band Harmonica no 1896 Key . Your email address will not be published. Key Features Vintage Hohner Marine Band Harmonica In Box A440 small ad vertisement by RetroCite Ad vertisement from shop RetroCite RetroCite From shop RetroCite. Ending Today at 17:11 EST 12h 5m. The lips at the rear of the covers are still flattened, making the harp more open at the rear, but the M. HOHNER on the lower cover is slightly shorter than on the previous examples and where it used to say MADE BY and GERMANY on either side of the name, it now says MADE IN GERMANY and FABRIQU EN ALLEMAGNE. The archetypal blues harmonica with the traditional HOHNER tuning. There may be more subtle changes in construction that could further date a harmonica (such as the rounded rivet heads on prewar 64s) but that stuff is beyond my expertise. Hohner used various trademarks over the years, but a particularly common one was a circle being held by two hands. Accessioned with original cardboard box. Hohners main Chord is known as the Hohner 48, because it plays 48 chords. medals have gone back to single circles, although the ULM and STUTTGART medals still have double circles. It only takes a minute to sign up. Ive literally never met one person who doesnt agree. Footnote: I should add that this is very much a work in progress and I would love to hear from anyone that has any examples of variations that I have not covered above, particularly if you have any reliable means of dating them accurately. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Known for its full tone, wood comb, and its patented cover plates, the Marine Band harmonica was there when harmonica blues was born. this excerpt from my Fender Blues Deluxe Review. Well, theyre good in so far as theyre cheap! Several noted users are Bob Dylan, Brian Jones, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Little Walter and Neil Young. The Hohner Marine Band 1896 classic harmonica is the original blues harp. This time, the Marine Band Harmonica. $34.99. I want a marine band, I would do a Buddah model cause i'd like to play it, not take it apart. I always hear that the hohner marine Band is considered the best harmonica and almost God like. [7] There are various subdivisions of the Marine Band. The Hohner Marine Band Deluxe brings the incomparable sound of the Marine Band 1896 into the 21st century with a variety of improvements which optimise handling and ensure greater volume and faster response, while retaining the rich and powerful Hohnersound. VAT Number: GB287764345. The front left channel and rear right weren't playing sound, power supply was working and output transistors were working, just had to clean the gain pots and all 4 channels work. To top it all off, the corners are pretty pointy, so holding it for long periods of time could be uncomfortable. Earlier 270s had a red cardboard box with fancy texturing, while the 280 had a hard red box (1950s) and earlier had a round-top wooden box with fake texture finish and yelow lining. Comfort Comfort is the one area where the Marine Band 1896 does not fare well against the competition. Item was in great shape from being a amp from the late 90s. Money no object? If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. Do you have the box or case for it? 18.80 postage. Your email address will not be published. 4/5 Stars. The purists irrationally cleave to the notion that the sound of the Marine Band 1896 is the sound that was, for better or worse, the sound of the old time legends. PATENT AUG 24TH 1897MADE IN GERMANY. Vintage C.A. Also the words DEM VERDIENSTE (alongside the WEIN medals) have now been abbreviated to D. VERDIENSTE. Just taking a glance at it will make you feel like you travelled back in time to the early 1900s. The concept failed and is often frowned upon by professional 48 chord players. Whilst old guitars are often considered to be "vintage", old harmonicas are generally considered to be merely something that has been in someone else's mouth. It took some major abuse on the travels. They were apparently hoping to cash in on the fame and name recognition of the Marine Band to boost interest in their new instrument. (I go into some detail about the changes of the Hohner Marine Band model on this page.) The first production runs turned out some rather unresponsive harps with short lived reeds, but these problems were address with longer scale reeds, improved tolerances and a better reed alloy. Both our time is valuable. The details might be a little too subtle to make out in the above pictures, but the designs have all been very slightly shrunk horizontally and very slightly stretched vertically. The box is only slightly changed from earlier versions. According to a friend who has played marine band for many years, all that he's owned have screws, so this could be a rare model.The rivets could be drilled out and others put in after, but it may be worth checking its value first. The address of Hicksville NY on this box dates it to some time after 1960 (Hohner US being based at Hicksville from 1960 to 1982). The most recent version of the Marine Band case has the design on the top reduced in size once more: Here is the current (as of 2011) label on the bottom of the box: The most recent changes were made around 2011, when sealed combs were introduced. However, it is by no means safe to assume that an instrument bearing a trademark with fewer points to the star is older than one bearing a trademark with more points to the star. One came without a box, the other came in a box identical to the next example, but as the key stamped on the box did not match the key of the harp, it was obviously not the original one. Why do many companies reject expired SSL certificates as bugs in bug bounties? Cover Plate Support - Super Chromonica, 12-hole Style. I've never had one and was looking on the market for one but I'm having second thoughts. I think its well worth the extra money. This harmonica was made by M. Hohner in Germany, undetermined date. If you don't take the cover, you can't clean it properly. My name's Cooper, I'm 28 and I'm a musician based in Tel Aviv, working with other artists as a harmonica player, guitarist and pianist. The chord harmonica is used to provide chordal and rhythmic backing in an ensemble, much as rhythm guitar might do. Over time, I have absolutely fallen in love with this harmonica. First launched in 1896, this model has been regularly played on stage by probably every famous harmonica player you can think of - from Bob Dylan to Neil Young to Adam Gussow to Howard Levy. The low monthly subscription of $16.95 gives you full access! Even though many of them were quickly consigned to the garbage by parents with headaches, there are still a lot of them out there in boxes of unwanted toys, belongings of deceased relatives, junk stores and so on. Registered Company 10370912. A couple of days later I got around taking it apart to clean it. The picture of the US Marine Band is now printed directly on the top of the box, rather than being a separate piece of paper pasted on. Almost unchanged since it was patented in 1896, the instrument embodies the real deep blues like no other and is the benchmark against which all others are judged. Don't be afraid. . An original Hohner harmonica at an affordable price! In fact, one of the main reasons that Hohner developed their Special 20 and Crossover model harmonicas was to address the comfort issue. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Joe Filisko for the loan of several of the pre-WWII examples shown above. Look in the middle of the circle - if there is a star inside it, then it is probable that it was made prior to WWII. How should I deal with enharmonics on the Chromatic Harmonica? If you can afford it, Id recommend springing for it. This one is probably from some time in the mid-1920s: The harmonica is slightly smaller than the preceding specimens, measuring 4" x 1", with the mild steel covers 2/3" deep at the front, and 3/4" at rear. It is probable that you found this page with a search engine, as you sit at your computer with an old harmonica in your lap, curious as to how much it is worth. Is there a proper earth ground point in this switch box? African American History Curatorial Collective, Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments. The number A440 stamped on certain Hohner harps indicates neither a limited edition, nor a model number - it tells you that it is tuned to standard concert pitch (see FFAQ10). Be warned: if you email me to ask how much your old harmonica is worth, I will simply reply with a link to this page. ate 1970s), and the Super 64x version (1980s). The 280 went from nailed-on wood (up until the early 1950s), then pinkish-borwn plastic with drift pins (1950s to about 1980), to screwed-on black (up to the present). If you already own a Hohner Blues Harp or a Hohner Big River harmonica, and youre wondering if its a good harmonica to learn on: fear not, youre in great shape. Check out my in-depth Hohner Crossover review. Improved cover design gives greater volume and stability while preventing reed rattle. More on the way soon. The 364, like many other Hohner models, has stainless steel covers and brass reed plates. Hohner Progressive Series Harmonicas Which One Should I Buy? There were also a few changes to the box around the time of WWII. The wooden comb, and the edge of the reedplate that is exposed between the coverplates and the comb, both help to make this harmonica very rough on the lips when played for long periods of time. It will not be helpful for beginners who really want to learn how to play harmonica. Initially designed for European folk music . There are some slight differences in the engraving and the design of the hands in the trademark is considerably different and all the medals now have doubled circles around them. Marine Band Crossover Harmonica - Key of C. Marine Band Crossover Diatonic Harmonica - Key of C. 10 reviews Write your review Item ID: MarineCrossC. One thing that can really boost the value of an otherwise ordinary harmonica is if it has been used by someone famous. How do I clean my harmonica without taking it apart? Check out my full Hohner Golden Melody review. These have a clear finish, rather than the traditional yellow/orange paint on the front and black paint on the ends and rear of the comb. Of course, the tradeoff is comfort, but for tone, the Marine Band 1896 easily gets 5/5 Stars. They are long they will still work. Between 12th and 14th Streets Thats right: billion with a B. I think its safe to say that they know a thing or two about making harmonicas! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. US PATENT OFFICE is no longer present and NO 1896 is now printed directly under the word GERMANY instead of off to the left. Double sided harmonica - Weltmeister Rare World War 2 Double sided - Old Harmonica - Collectible harmonica Ad vertisement by TheVINTAGEShopBG. Looks This harmonica is absolutely beautiful to look at. In the late 1980s, a plastic box was introduced: In the early 1990s, the design on the lid was enlarged: Also the word HANDMADE was stamped on the front of the box for a short time, to distinguish this model from the MS Marine Band being marketed at the time: Around this same time, Hohner started adding the barcode label to the bottom of the box (the ZA5 on this label dates it to around 1995, the year that the ZA5 reed alloy was introduced): The Marine Band itself went pretty much unchanged between the end of WWII and the end of the 20th century, at least as for as its visual appearance was concerned, with some very slight changes to the picture of Herr Hohner and the size of the lettering on the top cover. This is the quintessential blues harmonica from the Chicago Blues Era. The significance of the six-pointed star has been the subject of much debate. Registered Company 10370912. 3. Hohner Marine Band Harmonica Features at a Glance: Classic blues sound Key of C (diatonic) Number one choice of top professionals Full tone and wood comb Reeds: 20 Reedplates: Brass Comb: Pearwood Pick up a Hohner Marine Band harmonica and embrace the tradition of blues and rock history! The bottom of the box and the inside of the lid are also different. Just bear in mind that youll have to sacrifice the comfort that other modern alternatives can provide. From the photo with the best focus, it looks like it's possible that it's not a rivet, just a screw head that has broken off. $54.95 + $5.75 shipping. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions. The picture of Matthias Hohner is slightly simplified compared with earlier versions and the laurel around his picture is also a little different. Hohner Golden Melody Review + Video: The Pretty Lady in Red. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage M. Hohner Marine Band Harmonica Key of C Germany No 1896 at the best online prices at eBay! Everybody knows it. The Chord Harmonica consists of two harmonicas hinged together. One of the first celebrity-approved production instruments, the Hohner Marine Band 1896 harmonica may be the longest-running serial production instrument model in history. 2/5 Stars. If it needs more than that you have to take it apart, and it's held together with nails, which is a pain. There are a couple of them I would like to mention here are they both also bore the model number 1896. In fact, in 1980 they produced their one billionth harmonica. Cant do so, I tried talking one off but i couldn't put it back. there is no model on the harmonica itself, but the case says it is a c260. Chromonica is a term that Hohner uses for several different ones.
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