Re: [Harp-L] Old Marine Band (grandaddy of all Marine Bands)

[David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

That small star in the back and with the horizontal line is the tell-tale here. As far as I know, the ones from World War I to the mid 1920s had a small star, then the mouse ears from the 1920s to the end of the Mouse Ear Era in the early 30s had a bigger star. I'd guess 1900 - 1910 maybe.
I don't think they actually had a groove for coverplates until PME (post Mouse Ear Era.) Jacob Hohner originally thought that the tone came from vibrating coverplates, not the side vents, so it makes sense that there aren't any, I don't know if other models of the day had them or not, though. When Hohner figured out it was the side vent that made the tone, they locked it down, gave it a more solid cover with side vents and got rid of the mouse ear in the 30s and cut the coverplate groove.
Despite not being a "patent applied for" it's grandaddy status is intact. 
Dave 
_________________
Dave Payne 
Elk River Harmonicas
www.elkriverharmonicas.com 
----- Original Message ----
From: "jcolbyspell@xxxxxxxx" <jcolbyspell@xxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, June 9, 2008 1:03:22 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Old Marine Band (grandaddy of all Marine Bands)

It does say U.S.A. Patent August 24th 1897.  Which is why I guessed the 20's and not earlier.  It does not have a groove in the front for the cover plates to sit in.  Even though everything on it is pretty loose, it does not lose a lot of air.  As you can see, it is a key of C.  If you check out my sight, some of you have already, you will see some other gems from my meager collection.  But for something completely different I also enjoy playing my Suzuki Harpmaster that is always in my pocket.  It is a good expendable harp.  Here is the link to my site.  http://fromthedarkvillage.blogspot.com/

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