Happy 125th Birthday MARINE BAND!
Happy 125th Birthday Marine Band, “you don’t look a day over 100”!
I recently had the pleasure of photographing number 69 of the 125 limited production golden Hohner Marine Band Harmonica. On May 10th, 2021 number 69 was awarded to Olivier Vander Baudwede, the winner of the best “Original Harmonica Composition”, a contest held here at bluesharmonica.com. Make certain you listen to Oliver’s award winning composition! [1]
Richard Sleigh recently broadcasted an insightful YouTube video [2] on the Marine Band (1896) harmonica, the Greatest Accidental Blues Instrument.
Originally designed to sound like an accordion--but significantly more portable and enabled the player to perform folk type music (think polkas; "Oompa, Oompa", not Charlie and the Chocolate Factory... those were Oompa-Loompas). Mathias Hohner thought it would be a marvelous marketing idea to name the harmonica, after the extremely popular US “Marine Band”, led by musical director and conductor, John Phillips Souza--the rock star of the day.
The Marine Band harmonica coincided with the ubiquitous train whistles heard throughout the Southern Part of the United States. Many of the field hands were able to purchase this affordable harmonica and carry it around in their pockets. They discovered that with their Marine Band harmonica, they would be able to do a convincing job of imitating the train whistle sounds. Richard Sleigh did a persuasive job of laying out the case, that by drawing down on the reeds to create the most realistic train whistle sounds, the player accidentally discovered there were other bluesy notes hidden within the instrument. The now inescapable harmonica player’s technique of “bending”, also known as, “choking the reed” was born. The invention of Blues in the 1920s embraced the little Marine Band as a must have blues instrument.
Especially made box for this special Hohner Limited Edition 125th Commemorative Marine Band Harmonica
Pretty awesome--isn’t it?
Notice the “Mickey Mouse” shaped tabs that with four brads (small nails) will hold the originally designed cover plates in place.
Number 69. Very cool.
If you look closely, you will see brads securing the reed plates against the wooden comb--in the traditional way. Today, being replaced by machine screws (which is a very good improvement)
Close up of the left side Draw cover plate
Here is the view of the middle Draw cover. Notice the “ragged sleeves” holding the six pointed star. During Nazi occupied Germany, Hohner removed the six pointed star from future production, due to the remarkable resemblance to the Jewish Star of David
Right side view of the Draw cover plate
Close up image of the left side end view
Left side of Blow cover plate. Notice the intricate detail of founder/inventor, Matthais Hohner
Similar to the original 1896 Marine Band, the Blow cover plate proudly displayed the U.S.A PATENT AUG.24th 1897 (Hohner started selling the Marine Band in 1896)
Final goodbyes as I repackaged the 125th Anniversary Limited Edition Marine Band #69 and sent back to David Barrett.
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
