Re: [Harp-L] OK Boys and Girls...it's a REAL American Harmonica Company!, -)

[David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The gist of the story is Kratt came to the U.S. as a boy, went to work for Thomas Edison, he eventually became Edison's chief machinist. He goes back to Germany, built the National Harmonica Company right under Hohners nose, Hohner bought him out and he took the money back to the U.S. to make the pitchpipe he invented (they still make it). He maybe had to agree to never make harmonicas again, that was SOP for Hohner takeovers, but I dunno for sure. He, like the honey badger, probably didn't care, because he really wanted to make his new pitchpipe. My contention has been that the National Harmonica Company was a clever ruse to raise cash. Shortly before WWII, the US cut off trade with Germany, so Kratt swoops in and starts making harps, although brass was scarce in the US and Germany because we were using it to shoot each other. That's where the plastic harmonica from Mangus came in, although I've never established what Kratt and Magnus' relationship was, I couldn't imagine the entire post WWII harmonica production being in Union NJ, if there wasn't.
Anyway, Kratt has always been primarily a pitchpipe company, but they did make harps for 30 some years.
I do know a bit more about Kratt, I'll have to make it a featured company on the Harpschool page.
If you wonder what happened to the dies, the story I heard from someone who tried to track them down was that they were deliberately destroyed after they stopped making harps.

David
www.elkriverharmonicas.com

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 3, 2012, at 18:33, Music Cal <macaroni9999@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Hi Rob
> 
> Do they still make their own reeds for the pitch pipes?
> 
> How did you learn about this company and its harmonica making history? Were
> you strolling through Mr. Roger's neighborhood?
> 
> Music Cal
> 
> 
> On Tue, Apr 3, 2012 at 11:28 AM, Rob Paparozzi <chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:
> 
>> This was a Harp Company right in my "Neighborhood" in Union, NJ looks like
>> Mr. Rogers bopped over one day!
>> 
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?**v=2Wmrz8BM-4M&feature=share<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wmrz8BM-4M&feature=share>
>> 
>> 
>> The company is still there but they make pitch pipes now...next week i
>> will stop in an see if there are any left over harps in there basement!
>> 
>> Mr. Kratt was born in Trossingen and moved to the USA
>> here is a link to his story......
>> 
>> 
>> PS...Interesting industrial area I live in...down the street from me is
>> where the 2012 & 2016 Teflon combs were mold cast and produced!
>> 
>> 
>> Best,
>> Rob Paparozzi
>>