Re: [Harp-L] Magnus harmonica

[David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The thing Magnus is probably best known for is the all-plastic harmonica. He 
developed this during World War II in response to a world-wide shortage of 
harmonica brass, because the Germans and Americans needed all the brass they 
could get to make cartridges to shoot at each other. I saw once where Germany 
used 8 billion rounds of 8mm shells, that doesn't count all the brass used in 
artillery shells, 9mm rounds for pistols, etc. and the United States probably 
shot as many or more 30.06 shells. That's a lot of brass and I woud suspect most 
of the prewar harps were melted down in the U.S. and Germany, let alone reserve 
precious brass for making new harmonicas (although Kratt did get a little brass 
to make harps for the military). Unable to get brass, Magnus designed the all 
plastic harmonica. Plastic covers, plastic reeds, plastic reedplates, etc. 

I don't know that he actually was able to pull this off during the war, I've 
only found evidence these were selling after, but these plastic harmonicas were 
a nice, cheap  intro for the baby boomer kids. I believe Phil Caltabellotta got 
started on one of those. 

I've got one. You can play some nice blues on it, but it's really hard. Not very 
responsive. 

Here is some court document I came across a while back, not something I've seen 
reposted anywhere. It's a summary of Mr. and Mrs. Finn Magnus vs. the IRS.

http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/259/259.F2d.893.12470_1.html

Dave
www.elkriverharmonicas.com