how old is my hohner marine band harmonica

To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. The picture above shows the words PATENT APPLIED FOR on the cover, so presumably this 1906 catalog must have used an old illustration. For more info check out my full review of the Marine Band 1896. The harp also has a much slimmer profile top to bottom than previous versions. This page tells you pretty much everything I can about the value of your old harmonica without actually seeing it. Here is your shopping list from www.micromark.com. Check out my full Hohner Golden Melody review. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The instruments, held together with nails, were hard to get apart, hard to get back together. VTG M. HOHNER MARINE BAND HARMONICA - NO. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. I had a lot of them and you can just take them out and back without any problem several times. This was printed on a blow reed plate: 1-216-1011018/1 G Dur Hohner 27/03 L9/KA2. Ready to suffer a little for your blues? https://theharmonicacompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/HOHNER-Marine-Band-Deluxe-Harmonica-1.mp4. Required fields are marked *. Sold out. Or $4/month for 48 months. Contact Want to up your single note game? Together, they are capable of playing 48 chords. And Pros love it too! I hope to be helpful to you on your harmonica journeys. The Hohner company has produced more than forty different models bearing the name Marine Band over the years, ranging from simple Richter diatonics with twenty reeds, to huge multiple tremolo instruments with almost almost two hundred reeds and all sizes and types in between. Completely assembled with screws for easy maintenance. The MS version is noticeably larger, about 4 1/16th inches by 1 1/16th inches, with a much thicker profile. Bendability Both the draw bends and the blow bends on this harmonica were very easy to execute and control with precision. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Old herings super 20 were like that too, using rivets. The labels on the inside of the lid and bottom of the box were unchanged from earlier versions. 1896 model in the key of C, with 10 single holes and 20 reeds. US PATENT OFFICE is no longer present and NO 1896 is now printed directly under the word GERMANY instead of off to the left. SPONSORED. The 1896 model first appeared in the year 1896, but back then it seems to have been called the Marine Orchestra. C. $19.99. Do I need a thermal expansion tank if I already have a pressure tank? Until about 1955 16-holers were straight-tuned, afer which they were cross-tuned. It's a 10 hole. If youre currently considering buying a Hohner Blues Harp or a Hohner Big River, heres my advice: The Hohner Blues Harp, has a wooden comb. Its design has changed quite a bit over the last century and I have attempted here to draw up a chronology of its evolution. It's like trying to cook eggs without breaking them. If youre wanting to get a great plastic comb harmonica, Id recommend that you just get one of the tried-and-true originals the Special 20 or the Golden Melody. Learn Harmonica! 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! 20K subscribers HOHNER Marine Band When Jacob HOHNER registered his new harmonica design at the US Patent Office on January 30th, 1896, he did not understand the impact it was to have on. Figuring out the age of a harmonica is by no means easy, nor is it always relevant to the value of the instrument. Most of what makes these so expensive is the cost of materials and making it a G sharp harmonica. I resisted. I have so far been unable to locate any similar legal protection for the name Marine Orchestra. 3 comments. T&C C, A, A Flat, B, B Flat, D, D Flat, E, E Flat, F, G. The most popular models are either single-sided or double-sided Echo harps, but the single-sided ones can be combined into quadruple or sextuple corncob setups, with a different key on each row. The harmonica is engraved: MARINE BAND Initially designed for European folk music . This harmonica has a light brown and black stained wooden comb with metal cover plates screwed to top and bottom. It is very easy to tell the Marine Band MS from the Classic/Handmade version. I have two examples of this version. you have to use your ear and i'm not trained enough to know the right tune for each hole, i don't know flip jers, but he seems very professional, he could retune I have two Marine Band harps in G and C,40 years old or more.I took one apart to clean, and it has never been reassembled. Up until the mid 1970s, the Marine Band was not officially distributed outside of the US, but upon being given worldwide distribution, the US address was removed from the lower label and the purchaser was advised "Ask your dealer or Hohner distributor". The lower label now gives the address as M Hohner Inc., New York City and offers a free instruction book and the inside label brags that the harmonica has been "scientifically tested". The Golden Melody is the most comfortable of all the Hohner line, has the darkest tone, and is the only harmonica tuned to Equal Temperament instead of Just Intonation, which means it's especially good for playing single notes in tune. I've had it 30 years now. Many brands of harmonica have little medals engraved on the covers with various dates on them. Although the comb is the same length, the covers have changed substantially. I guess if youre saving $20 getting a Blues Harp instead of a Marine Band, and youre on a tight budget, go for it. Check out my in-depth Hohner Crossover review. Learn how your comment data is processed. Ending Today at 17:11 EST 12h 5m. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. I think its well worth the extra money. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. On the upper cover, the lettering is fractionally larger than on the previous examples, both for the name MARINE BAND and the Hohner signature. Music: Practice & Theory Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for musicians, students, and enthusiasts. As the patent for the Marine Band cover design was granted in August 1897, the following instrument presumably dates from 1896 or early 1897 as the lower cover says PATENT APPLIED FOR: The covers on this instrument are nickel-plated brass and still have the trademark on the top and Hohner's picture on the bottom, the trademark having a small six pointed star inside the circle. BluesHarmonica.com. At some point the comb material was changed from peachwood to pearwood, but I don't know how to tell the two woods apart by visual inspection. 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. Sturdy zipper case allows moisture to evaporate while keeping dust out. P4 A-440 Germany Vocal Old Style with Box. They are long they will still work. VAT Number: GB287764345. 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 is probably the question I get asked the most by email and the best answer I can give is that like anything else, an old harmonica is worth whatever someone is willing to pay you for it. Hey good people out there. The brass reeds and wood comb give it that beautiful woody tone that, in my opinion, just cant be beat. Your harmonica will survive. For low tunings, we recommend the Hohner Thunderbird, which has been designed from the ground up as a low tuned harmonica, but still has similar tone and feel to the classic Marine Band. It will not be helpful for beginners who really want to learn how to play harmonica. Either way, you want a pin/rivet with a head on one side, and about 1mm or 1/16th inch sticking through the other side of the harmonica. I absolutely LOVE the Golden Melody. Pickup near South Perth in Kensington. It could even gouge out the holes, ruining the harp. If youre looking to emulate that old woody tone authentically at any cost, then look no further! This is the quintessential blues harmonica from the Chicago Blues Era. Ive literally taught thousands of people how to play the harmonica, and not one beginner who has purchased the Special 20 hasnt loved it. I pulled out this Marine Band 1896, and the thing bends like a champ! The Hohner Big River has a plastic comb, so its more comfy on the lips than wooden-combed harps like the Marine Band and the Blues Harp. The Pentaharp was specifically designed for guitar players, and its tuning is laid out totally differently from a regular harmonica. Why is there a voltage on my HDMI and coaxial cables? Also the comb is now shorter than any of the previous models, a fraction under 4 inches long. I always hear that the hohner marine Band is considered the best harmonica and almost God like. The box has different labels to previous versions, both inside the lid and on the bottom. Open quick view dialog for Hohner Marine Band Crossover Harmonica M2009 { "inCheckoutPromo":[] } Hohner Marine Band Crossover Harmonica M2009. The upper tabs now bear the key of the harp at the right and A440 at the left. The star vanished during the Nazi era and has never returned. But is the standard actually that good? The size difference is not big but it is bigger. Should you wish to replace reed plates on the Marine Band Classic, we recommend upgrading to the Andrew Zajac Marine Band Conversion Kit, which replaces the stock nails with a bolted setup, and makes the process of changing reed plates significantly easier. Chromonica 260 Reed Plate Set Key C Major. As I mentioned at the start of this article, there have been many other models made with the name Marine Band. I have never had someone buy a Hohner Special 20 and be disappointed with it. The awards have always been on the bottom cover. If you have a very good condition old Hohner Marine Band, or 64 Chromonica, then there could be a player prepared to pay a reasonable price for it. You can order from his website custom combs for Hohner chromatic harmonicas, ask for restoration and various repair services. Hohner has been making harmonicas for about 160 years. and GESCH. It responds quickly to blows and draws alike, just as you would hope it would. The 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. Vintage Harmonica Hohner Marine Band 1896 Key Harp M40. 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 . They were apparently hoping to cash in on the fame and name recognition of the Marine Band to boost interest in their new instrument. 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. Saturday 4th March: All orders are being dispatched as normal! This harmonica was made by M. Hohner in Germany, undetermined date. 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. If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. Rivets are hollow-tube pins. Postage is at cost. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Categories: Diatonic Harmonica, Harmonicas, Hohner, Manufacturer, Tags: 1896 classic, Diatonic, Harmonica, Hohner, Marine Band. medals have gone back to single circles, although the ULM and STUTTGART medals still have double circles. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Hohner Pentaharp isnt actually one of my favorite Hohner harmonicas, but it is one of their newest offerings, so I thought it would be cool to check it out and tell you about it. Washington, D.C. Email powered by MailChimp (Privacy Policy & Terms of Use), International Media Interoperability Framework. Sponsored. The bottom of the box and the inside of the lid are also different. If it needs more than that you have to take it apart, and it's held together with nails, which is a pain. Don't be afraid. does any one know how to tell how old a harmonica is? The top is pretty plain. C $135.09. Here we have a second Hohner product. Return to Fairly Frequently Asked Questions. The price is about 35-40$ which is the most common price range for good harmonicas for everybody from straight up first-time harmonica players to professionals that record with it and play live. How are they compared to other harmonicas too? Improved cover design gives greater volume and stability while preventing reed rattle. The box is only slightly changed from earlier versions. 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. Heres my take on the Hohner Marine Band, which is the #1 best-sellingharmonica model of all time. Its uniquely authentic sound has defined the role of the harmonica in the blues tradition and made it the benchmark by which all others are judged. or Best Offer. Compare. How should I clean my fingerboard without damaging my violin? This time, the Marine Band Harmonica. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Clicking on the links under each picture will open new windows with close-ups of various parts of each instrument. The A440 is a little bigger than before and the key on the right tab of the upper cover is now stamped into the metal, rather than engraved. Here's my take on the Hohner Marine Band, which is the #1 best-selling harmonica model of all time. Once the harp has had the chance to dry out thoroughly, there is relatively little danger of any communicable diseases being passed on. * 0-80 x 3/8' brass bolts #70189 round head, or #70191 for hex head (strictly a matter of taste) * 0-80 nuts if you choose not to tap threads into the bottom draw reed plate, and the four 0-80 nuts you will need to secure the cover . Harmonicas were made literally by the thousand and even sometimes by the million (Hohner, just one of the many companies to have manufactured them, produced their one billionth harmonica more than a quarter century ago). Hohner registered the name Up To Date as DRWZ 16213 later that same year (application made March 38th, granted May 5th) and trademarked the number 1896 with the USPTO in 1902 (Trade-Mark 38,458, filed May 16th, granted June 17th). Cover Plate Support - Super Chromonica, 12-hole Style. If money isnt tight and youre the kind of person who likes the best of the best, then go for the Crossover! $270.00. These reviews are strictly based on my own experience and opinions. In my opinion, the Fender Blues Deluxe is a better purchase in the budget harmonica category, even though its a few bucks more. From the birth of the blues, the Marine Band 1896 has been a constant musical fixture. If you are really wanting to learn the harmonica, I DO NOT recommend that you purchase the Pentaharp because it is SO DIFFERENT from a regular harmonica. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Joe Filisko for the loan of several of the pre-WWII examples shown above. Im putting these 2 Hohner harmonicas under the same heading because my response to these questions is similar. During the mid-1960s through some time in the 1970s, they had soft wraparound plastic pouches, green for the 270 and brown for the 280. If you require a personal response, please use ourContact page. Hohner from the 19 to the late 19 also produced the Polyphonia No. Full Disclosure: Not All Hohner Harmonicas Are Created Equal! But if youre only saving $5 or $10, Id say, just save up and get the Marine Band. 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. Those that do are mostly in the German language and take some effort to obtain. This next instrument came with a booklet in its case that was dated 1905 and the design of the label inside the lid of the case was trademarked in 1907 (DRWZ 101069). Recent versions all have a hard plastic box, green for the 270, black for the 16-holers. We may update this record based on further research and review. Required fields are marked *. Are there tables of wastage rates for different fruit and veg? C $13.89. 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.