[Harp-L] re: Who on earth is Anton the Plumber?

[Jonathan Ross <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

All quotes from Smokey Joe:

"I read the article and can only say that anyone who does research  
uses bits and pieces from OTHER people's writing. So this article is  
speculation and since the author wasn't born in 1835, there is no way  
to prove it. In fact, none of you 3 were born in 1835. lol"

That is the point I was trying to make.  There can be no definitive  
statements made, and so when they are made, especially when made as  
if they are known and by someone who wishes to be seen as a serious  
researcher, that is a significant error.  In areas like early  
harmonica history where most things are unknown, then that is how  
they should be presented.

"But you're saying that anything a German wrote about Germany was  
automatically accepted by all Germans. In other words there were no  
Germans who took these writings with a large grain of salt. In other  
words millions of Germans were oblivious to wool being pulled over  
their eyes."

History as a political tool is a strong force, especially when most  
people want to believe it.  In a case like this, it helped feed into  
the force of nationalism.  There were undoubtedly some who wouldn't  
believe it, but then, as there was less ability to know what was  
going on in other areas of the world, there was less ability to  
refute it.  And most people in the 19th and early 20th centuries,  
especially in the caste-like societies of Europe, deferred to those  
in positions of authority, in this case academics.  It is significant  
that well into the end of the 20th century most people in the field  
would probably not have questioned the Bauschman-Richter-Hohner line  
of harmonica history, in Germany and elsewhere.

"What I'm seeing here is that you tend to give some people  
credibility while others are left wanting."

Credibility is either earned or lost.  I find those credible who can  
back up their claims.  Similarly those who jump to conclusions, can  
be shown to be wrong by their own writing and fail to grasp basic  
issues I find lack credibility.  Those who never deal with direct  
questions very quickly loose my respect.  Those who avoid the issues  
raised and attack the individual have no credibility.



 ()()    JR "Bulldogge" Ross
()  ()
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