Re: New Harmonica Patent

[<gmayhew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> From @UKCC.UKY.EDU:pierccm@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Thu Feb 18 02:46:46 1993
> X-Listname: Harmonica Discussion List <HARP-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Warnings-To: <>
> Sender: pierccm@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Reply-To: HARP-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: New Harmonica Patent
> To: <harp-l%wkuvx1.bitnet@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Mailer: Elm [revision: 66.25]
>
> RE:
>          "the first blues harmonica to play all the notes of the
>          chromatic scale."

Dick Anderson writes:
>
> Just a guess....  Hohner recently introduced a 10 hole Richter tuned
> button chromatic harmonica and called it something that sounded like the
> the "Blues Harp".  Since Patents are very slow in being published, I suspect
> this patent is the result of this "new" harp.  Has anyone seen one of
> these?  Is it possible that Hohner re-arranged the blow and draw reeds to
> put all the blow reeds on one plate and all the draws on the other like
> a diatonic rather than both blow and draw on the same reed plate like a
> chromatic.  This would make it play and bend more like a diatonic blues harp.
>
> I have a 10 hole Richter tuned chromatic purchased from Sears in the '50s.
>
I bought a Koch chromatic (sold by Hohner) about three years ago.  It's
a 10 hole Richter tuned C-harmonica with a lever to raise all the notes
one half tone.  The tone is thin, the volume is low.  I haven't found it
to be very useful.  I haven't really experimented with it much, though.
When I read about the new Hohner, I thought it sounded like an improved
version of the Koch.

> Pardon my cynicism, but sometimes I think there's nothing new under the
> Sun (at Hohner).
>
Not true, Dick!  There are new country of origin labels (China, Singapore,
etc.), new higher prices, new advertising campaigns--"Getcher blues
posters here!"  There's also that new chromatic, CX-12 I think, with a
one-piece plastic cover and much simplified assembly.  I haven't figured
out why Hohner thinks it's worth 50 or 60 bucks more than a model 270, yet.

> Now, let's find out about that new "overblow harp" by that Doctor friend of
> Howard Levy.  IMHO, That's worthy of a patent.
>
Agreed.  Do you know whether there is a production deal on that one?
Lots of good ideas never make it to the market.

George