Re: [Harp-L] Re: Harmonica Otherwise playlist on Spotify

[Benoît FELTEN <benoit.felten@xxxxxxxxx>]

That's a really interesting point, David, and one which I'd never thought
about before.

Isn't it thrilling when you realise the *big* history crosses your hobbies?

Benoit

2012/6/25 David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

> I think the reason they didn't make them was the same reason we generally
> didn't make them in the U.S. until we couldn't get German harmonicas
> anymore. When the craze hit in the 1920s, German money was so undervalued
> and the U.S. dollar was so strong, harmonicas from Germany were
> artificially cheap.
>
> David Payne
> www.elkriverharmonicas.com
>
>
> Elk River Harmonicas Forum now available via Iphone app,
> www.elkriverharmonicas.com/forum
>
>
> ________________________________
>  From: Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Cc: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 11:54 AM
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Re: Harmonica Otherwise playlist on Spotify
>
> During the time period of which ya'all speak, France was THE bench mark
> for quality items. Especially during the industrial revolution. They had
> expositions all the time. In those days the Brits were known for heavy huge
> endeavors. Like bridges, steam engines, heavy equipment. France was known
> for small intricate artisticaly done items, architecture, and any thing of
> artistic design. Because of the tendency for Americans to buy anything
> exotic, It became something of a klepto for anyone wanting to sell to
> Americans to attach the name 'French' to it.
>
> The French even had a quality badge that they would afix to winners of
> expositions categories. It was the representation of the highest point in
> Europe. Namely Mont Blanc. The Mt. Blanc was considered the zenith or
> highest point of craftsmanship.  It was (basically) the snow capped summit
> and as such resembled a white star shaped stamp. This was not a Star of
> David (with 30 degree departure angles), but was an ENTRUNCATED star (37.5
> degree angles). Over the years this has erroneously been thought of as a
> star of David.
>
> smo-joe  (whom always wondered why the French didn't make harmonicas..I'm
> sure they would have been works of art.)
>
>
> On Jun 25, 2012, at 7:49 AM, David Payne wrote:
>
> > There was an actual model in the late 1800s early 1900s called the
> French Harp, my contention is the name stuck, kind of like Band Aid did for
> bandages.
> >
> > I can't speak for the entire South, but Archeological harmonica evidence
> I've reviewed from Virginia would suggest in the late 19th and early 20th
> Centuries that most harps in the mid Atlantic South were supplied by
> Klingenthal makers and not Hohner - who apparently must have been better
> established in the North - and other things I've seen have given me the
> impression that Hohner had little control over the U.S. Market until around
> 1905, so it would make sense to me that another harmonica could have
> bestowed it's name upon the whole - and it was probably readily accepted
> for the reason Pat mentioned. My grandmother always called it a French harp.
> > David
> >
> > www.elkriverharmonicas.com
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> > On Jun 25, 2012, at 5:30, Benoît FELTEN <benoit.felten@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> >> That got me wondering why "French Harp" and I found this explanation on
> Pat
> >> Missin's excellent site:
> >>
> >> "French" was often used in the US South to mean "European" and although
> >> harmonicas were mostly made in Germany, they wound up being called
> French
> >> Harps (compare with the Irish Gaelic term below).
> >>
> >> http://www.patmissin.com/ffaq/q3.html
> >>
> >> Apparently in Gaelic it was the "French Fiddle" !
> >>
> >> Benoit
> >>
> >> 2012/6/25 Dan Hazen <bluesmandan76@xxxxxxxxx>
> >>
> >>> "Also, there are a host of great harmonica players in France --
> >>> disproportionate to the population, I believe."
> >>>
> >>> Maybe that's why it's also nicknamed the "french harp".
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Benoît FELTEN (http://twitter.com/fiberguy)
> >> www.fiberevolution.com
> >> www.musicalramblings.com
> >> www.apprentiphotographe.com
> >
>



-- 
Benoît FELTEN (http://twitter.com/fiberguy)
www.fiberevolution.com
www.musicalramblings.com
www.apprentiphotographe.com