how old is my hohner marine band harmonica

Your harmonica will survive. M.Hohner Vtg The Echo Harp Germany Bell Metal Reeds Box Harmonica. Lets find out together. Our next example is from the early 1930s: The covers are similar to the previous one, but for the trademark now has a larger star once more, much shorter cuffs and all the medals back to having doubled circles again. It is a Marine Band No. Return to Fairly Frequently Asked Questions. If you can afford it, Id recommend springing for it. Here is a picture from a 1905 Hohner catalog for the German market, showing the Orpheus Concert: The number 1896 also applied to a harmonica with the name Up To Date, as shown in this picture taken from a 1906 Hohner catalog for the US market: Hohner produced more than sixty different models bearing the name Up To Date, but this one clearly resembles the Marine Band, particularly with regard to its covers. Its undisputed. T&C The center of the medallion is empty on all but the oldest ones, which (before about 1937) had a six-pointed star in the medallion (though rosettes and 5-pointed stars have appeared in some of the very early ones). Check out my full Hohner Golden Melody review. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. it won't stick to its place. One of the easiest harmonicas in the world for bending. However, the Pentaharp could be great for a guitarist who wants to be able to play bluesy riffs without having to spend months learning how to bend notes on a harmonica. Required fields are marked *. Just taking a glance at it will make you feel like you travelled back in time to the early 1900s. Add To Cart. Also, numbers such as 270, 365, or 34B do not indicate that the item was part of a limited edition (as I have seen suggested on various online auctions) they merely indicate the catalog number of that particular model. If it don't have little screws, don't take it apart, leave it alone. Guitarist? To make space for this, the medals are all slightly smaller and have smaller lettering around them. Compare. The biggest health risk is when you share a harmonica with someone within moments of it being used by the other person. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Contact Looking for an amazing bang-for buck harp? C $73.09. One thing that can really boost the value of an otherwise ordinary harmonica is if it has been used by someone famous. The U.S.A. PATENT AUG. 24th 1897 and MADE IN GERMANY claims are no longer present on the upper cover and the lettering of the name MARINE BAND is substantially larger. The box now has #1896 added to the design on the top and a label on the bottom boasting of the quality of their instruments and of their award at the 1915 San Francisco Exposition. Youll get 3 free video lessons where youll learn. But even worse, the Hohner Hot Metal and Hohner Old Standby are what I consider to be terrible harmonicas, and I recommend running in the other direction from them! 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. There was such an outcry from players when they heard that their beloved Marine Band was to be replaced, that Hohner changed their minds and the Marine Band MS was only marketed in Europe and was discontinued completely around 1997/98. The size difference is not big but it is bigger. Help 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 its especially good for playing single notes in tune. As it turned out, she was willing to sell the harp at a fair price, so I bought it. The original version of the Blues Harp was introduced in the late 1960s and despite the stories about the reeds somehow being different (see this pagefor more details), was essentially a Marine Band with different covers. One change that is easier to spot is the number of nails used to secure the lower reedplate. There are many other small variations in the Hohner trademark that may help give a rough approximation of the manufacturing date, but they are a little beyond the scope of this article. Also the words DEM VERDIENSTE (alongside the WEIN medals) have now been abbreviated to D. VERDIENSTE. The only reason I doc it one star is that I wish it had better key labels. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. African American History Curatorial Collective, Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments. This was part of Hohner Modular Series that came out in the late 1980s and whose original concept was to replace the hand made models with instruments made on a computer-controlled assembly line. It felt to me like the edges of the reed plates were also adding to the discomfort. Is a collection of years plural or singular? My speculation is that the Marine Band 1896 is a relic, long ago surpassed by better thinking and better materials, and maintained in production only to please purists and romanticizers. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. TheVINTAGEShopBG. To see a couple of great alternatives, check out my Lee Oskar Review and/or my Hohner Golden Melody Review. 1881 Harmonica, Key Of G, Made In Germany. I have seen instruments that could be reliably dated to the late 1800s that had the six point star in the trademark and I have seen instruments that were definitely made after World War I that had only five points to the star. (So you can dip your toes in the water without breaking the bank.) The concept failed and is often frowned upon by professional 48 chord players. 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. Cant do so, I tried talking one off but i couldn't put it back. I have been playing Marine Bands for years and one specific Marine Band that I have has been around the world with me twice, mostly out of its carrying case, and it survived to tell you all about it. Hohner Progressive Series Harmonicas Which One Should I Buy? Chromonica is a term that Hohner uses for several different ones. Hohner Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica Key of F Germany T. $11.40. Whats not to love? A Hohner catalog from 1902 shows the 1896 model with the name Marine Band and the familiar picture of Matthias Hohner on the cover, also with the words PATENT APPLIED FOR, even though the accompanying caption clearly states Patented August 24th 1897: For what it is worth, the name Marine Band was registered with the German Trademark Office as DRWZ 14708 in 1896 (the application was made January 30th and granted March 13th) and with the United States Patent and Trademark Office as Trade-Mark 28,228 (application filed March 21st and granted May 5th). I spotted an old F. A. Bohm tremolo harmonica lying on one of the tables and tried to suppress my look of interest as I approached it. there is no model on the harmonica itself, but the case says it is a c260. 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. Unlike the 1896, the 364 is easy to take apart and adjust. Your Price $ 84.99 msrp:115.0,lowPrice:84.99. Hohner Marine Band 1896 Diatonic Harmonica - C $54.99 Brand New 14-Day Return Policy Hohner Golden Melody Progressive Harmonica - Key of C $49.99 Brand New Blessing Harmonica (X2) 1970s $11.55 Brand New 14-Day Return Policy Hohner Big River Stock Comb Stamped F $8 Brand New Free Shipping Hohner Big River Stock Comb Stamped Db $8 Brand New I think its well worth the extra money. If you don't take the cover, you can't clean it properly. A two-part hollow tube would definitely be called a rivet, but you're unlikely to find those on harmonicas. Although the comb is the same length, the covers have changed substantially. 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! Why is there a voltage on my HDMI and coaxial cables? Sturdy zipper case allows moisture to evaporate while keeping dust out. The Marine Band Classic is one of the few Hohner diatonics that is available in a full range of natural and harmonic minor tunings. All these models have been in production for over 20 years. From Germany Japan & Occupied Japan2. This harmonica was made by M. Hohner in Germany, undetermined date. And Pros love it too! Why does classical music sound out of tune on a Hohner Marine Band Deluxe Harmonica? $ 84 .99. 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. 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. 1896 model in the key of C, with 10 single holes and 20 reeds. I had a lot of them and you can just take them out and back without any problem several times. The go to harp for players such as Jerry Portnoy and Kim Wilson, although this iant publicised as the Marine Band Deluxe isnt marketed in the US. Money no object? How do I clean the windway on my recorder? 9 Inspiring Reasons to Do So. Check out my in-depth Hohner Crossover review. Saturday 4th March: All orders are being dispatched as normal! Its responsive, its got a great bluesy tone, and its one of the easiest harmonicas on which to learn how to bend notes. To get the best out of our site and for it to function correct, please read, accept and understand our 'Cookies Policy'. Is a PhD visitor considered as a visiting scholar? The claim REG. Co. of New York: The covers on this instrument are "upside down" compared with the current incarnation of the Marine Band, ie. The Hohner Special 20 is so responsive and so easy to bend, its comfy on the lips, and its got a nice, dark bluesy tone. Very responsive. To have a look please message me. 5 out of 5 stars (1,424) Sale Price $33.50 $ 33.50 $ 37.22 Original Price $37.22 (10% off) Add to Favorites Hohner Marine Band 364/24 G Harmonica, Vintage Instruments Collectible Musical . SPONSORED. 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 THE ADD IS UP IT'S AVAILABLE. Prior to about 1937 the 270 had a six-pointed star in a medallion at the center of the bottom cover. Look at the openings inside the round holes, with the slide in the out position (i.e., not pressed in). In fact, some harmonica collectors are so eager that I a few years ago watched a couple of them bid more than $40 dollars (plus shipping) for a harp they could have bought brand new from their local music store for a mere $4.95! (I go into some detail about the changes of the Hohner Marine Band model on this page.) Check your inbox in the next minute or two for your first lesson. This is a diatonic harmonica that works well for beginners and is one of the best selling harmonicas that the Hohner company has to offer. Sponsored. You're in! Rather than a pair of tabs at each end of the cover, there is a single tab at each end the full width of the cover. Or $4/month for 48 months. 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. 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 would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. I cannot provide free appraisals by email, not even rough estimates, so please don't ask. All Need Adjustment Cleaning Polishing & Lots of TLC3. Heres my Hohner Marine Band 1896 full review. this excerpt from my Fender Blues Deluxe Review. Dont worry, Im here to help. The Marine Bands double-lacquered Pear wood comb is tough on the lips, especially if you play it for a long time. The box has different labels to previous versions, both inside the lid and on the bottom. The Hohner Marine Band is a number-one choice among top professionals and one of the most recognizable harmonicas all over the world. The reedplates are held in place with screws and the covers attached with bolts, unlike the Classic Marine Band's nailed construction. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Contact 12.56. Vintage M. Hohner "Marine Band" No. Hohner Progressive Series Harmonicas Which One Should I Buy? In that case don't attempt pining the centers of the ends. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Everybody knows it. 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. Hohner has been making harmonicas for about 160 years. If youre wanting to get a wooden-combed harmonica, I recommend that you just get the tried-and-true original, the Marine Band (or, if you can afford it, the Crossover which is much comfier on the lips with its triple-lacquered bamboo comb). I resisted. Do new devs get fired if they can't solve a certain bug? (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); Honestly, though, I rarely play this instrument because the others are SO much more comfy, and still sound really good. Note: Comment submission is temporarily unavailable while we make improvements to the site. 1896 Key Of A Original HARD CASE | Musical Instruments & Gear, Vintage Musical Instruments, Vintage Wind & Woodwind | eBay! Here's a folder containing all the photos that you may want to see. 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 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. Music: Practice & Theory Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for musicians, students, and enthusiasts. Also the Seydel 1847 models are a bit larger than the Hohner Marine Band harps. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? 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. The star vanished during the Nazi era and has never returned. Tech Specs Scale: Diatonic Blues Key: C The Hohner Golden Melody is a bit larger than the Hohner Special 20. VAT Number: GB287764345. 8, which played 36 blow-only chords, in three rows. As this is a professional service, there will of course be a fee for it - and I should warn you that in the vast majority of cases, the cost of such an valuation will almost certainly be more than the instrument is worth. Best Beginner Harmonica Which Harmonica Is The Best For Beginners? Recent versions all have a hard plastic box, green for the 270, black for the 16-holers. Check out my free beginners kick-start course. The harp also has a much slimmer profile top to bottom than previous versions. HOHNER Tombo PeeWee Harmonica Lee Oskar Marine Band Golden Melody Old $240. If you're into jazz, gospel, or bluegrass, I highly recommend that you consider this harp. When I first wrote about this next example, I described it as being "something of an oddball". You're in! $54.95 + $5.75 shipping. (1) Hohner Marine Band 1896 Harmonica - Key of B. Probably any small tweezers or files would do - probably a cosmetic set would have the right tools. Ive literally taught thousands of people how to play the harmonica, and not one beginner who has purchased the Special 20 hasnt loved it. Just bear in mind that youll have to sacrifice the comfort that other modern alternatives can provide. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Only one problem: why in the world are there soooo many different Hohner harps to choose from? Accessioned with original cardboard box. The Hohner Marine Band 1896 classic harmonica is the original blues harp. $34.99. The harmonica is engraved: MARINE BANDM. Thanks for all that. 2.96K subscribers Here's a description of how to create a "Marine Band Opener" to crack open a Marine Band 1896 to work on it (customize, flatten reed plates, reed curvature, tuning,. The case is a soft green wraparound. Then in the mid to late 1990s, at the same time as Hohner retooled and made dramatic improvements to the tolerances between reed and reedplate, they went back to using seven nails for both reedplates and also added a production code stamped into the reedplate. . Straight tuned. The difference between the phonemes /p/ and /b/ in Japanese. There were also some changes made to the covers, most notably getting rid of the gaps at the ends of the front edges of the covers that had a tendency to snag facial hair.