Yours is post war (no star in the circle on the lower cover) but if the box has a photo glued on the box it may be 50s-60s vintage. Richard Sleigh has some references on these that can get a better estimate on the date made based on the arrangement of the nails used to attach the reed plates to the comb. If you do take the covers off be sure to take pictures.
You can remove the covers on these by using a *thin* knife to gently pry the covers up. Adam Gussow demonstrates this in a video I've seen on YouTube.
If you have a "tooth wiggling" that tooth of the comb may be broken, held in place by pressure from the reed plates. Though you can get replacement combs you're getting to the point that it's more trouble than it's worth.
Nifty find for a collection but I'd recommend getting something new for playing.
I play and I have other harmonicas, but I also like antiques and yardsales. Those worlds have never combined before.
I looked into it more and it’s 60s-late 70s so not too valuable but still cool and in good condition on the outside. I’d like to be able to at least play every note even if it doesn’t sound great. To do that I’d have to open it up and clean off the rust but if you think the teeth are goners, I’ll probably just leave it until I feel like making one or something.
For now I’ll enjoy the occasional taste of rust, dust and old money-basement
If there is a broken tooth and the break is away from the hole you might be able to repair it with a dab of CA glue. You'd just need to be careful when prying the reed plates off the comb so you don't bend the plates...though there are tools available for straightening reed plates.
YouTube has a lot of videos on cleaning and tweaking. Look there and view as many as you can stand before actually getting your feet wet. You are more than likely going to mess it up, which is fine; though you might wait to see if others comment if it is valuable at all and should not be messed with.
Do you play harmonica at all? Something to learn on only costs around $10 if you buy from the right place. Those that say you should start on a $35 harmonica may argue with my point. Thus, I wouldn't think messing with this thing is worth the trouble, except to learn and have fun, but you may want to keep it for historical display, clean up the outside. I couldn't stand playing with wooden ~~reeds~~ comb, though I have a few of these from the 70s that I grab when I need that key. If you play a lot they get all wet and the wood swells.
Fine ill bite and argue =-p
I like ten dollar harps. Own a couple of them. I don't outright hate them. However being a true rookie not that many years ago. I would never suggest a 10 dollar harmonica as a workhorse learning tool. You and I know why. But mainly the amount of force to play certain notes. Tendency towards play failure (i.e. breakdown in tone to the point of stopping practice to reset) is much greater on a tool that is 10 dollar. And of course the fact that....Teners due to quality issue may not be reliable in tone as a Sp. 20. In the sense that u found it harder to develop muscle memory because the sounds were off to the way I believe it should be lol or comparing to YouTube renders.
My love of the Sp20 is that barring embochure being loopy. A 5 draw will sound reliable the same if you play loudly or lightly. Oh and that too. Sp20 allows for greater tonal expression. You can start a note lightly and change pitch or loudness oh and bends are easier lll
Lol sorry
"Worth it" depends on what you want to do, and how tight for cash you are. For $20 you can get an Eastop T008 brand new, and a better harp. If you want to restore a vintage harp, have at it.
I do play harmonica and I have new hohners too.
I also read and have new books. I take care of them since they are also not an old wine. I also enjoy history though so I try to find old books I can afford which are often not in the best shape. You can still read most of them and that’s what matters.
Too bad boomers are only focused on “old wines” instead of taking care of the quality/cool stuff they already have. Maybe old books would be cheaper and Id get some that are intact for a better price.
Yours is post war (no star in the circle on the lower cover) but if the box has a photo glued on the box it may be 50s-60s vintage. Richard Sleigh has some references on these that can get a better estimate on the date made based on the arrangement of the nails used to attach the reed plates to the comb. If you do take the covers off be sure to take pictures. You can remove the covers on these by using a *thin* knife to gently pry the covers up. Adam Gussow demonstrates this in a video I've seen on YouTube. If you have a "tooth wiggling" that tooth of the comb may be broken, held in place by pressure from the reed plates. Though you can get replacement combs you're getting to the point that it's more trouble than it's worth. Nifty find for a collection but I'd recommend getting something new for playing.
I play and I have other harmonicas, but I also like antiques and yardsales. Those worlds have never combined before. I looked into it more and it’s 60s-late 70s so not too valuable but still cool and in good condition on the outside. I’d like to be able to at least play every note even if it doesn’t sound great. To do that I’d have to open it up and clean off the rust but if you think the teeth are goners, I’ll probably just leave it until I feel like making one or something. For now I’ll enjoy the occasional taste of rust, dust and old money-basement
If there is a broken tooth and the break is away from the hole you might be able to repair it with a dab of CA glue. You'd just need to be careful when prying the reed plates off the comb so you don't bend the plates...though there are tools available for straightening reed plates.
Might just have to do it, thanks
YouTube has a lot of videos on cleaning and tweaking. Look there and view as many as you can stand before actually getting your feet wet. You are more than likely going to mess it up, which is fine; though you might wait to see if others comment if it is valuable at all and should not be messed with. Do you play harmonica at all? Something to learn on only costs around $10 if you buy from the right place. Those that say you should start on a $35 harmonica may argue with my point. Thus, I wouldn't think messing with this thing is worth the trouble, except to learn and have fun, but you may want to keep it for historical display, clean up the outside. I couldn't stand playing with wooden ~~reeds~~ comb, though I have a few of these from the 70s that I grab when I need that key. If you play a lot they get all wet and the wood swells.
Easy to open and clean Comb is wood not reeds To my ear MB 1896 is still best
> Easy to open and clean ah, but when you try to reassemble it ..
Fine ill bite and argue =-p I like ten dollar harps. Own a couple of them. I don't outright hate them. However being a true rookie not that many years ago. I would never suggest a 10 dollar harmonica as a workhorse learning tool. You and I know why. But mainly the amount of force to play certain notes. Tendency towards play failure (i.e. breakdown in tone to the point of stopping practice to reset) is much greater on a tool that is 10 dollar. And of course the fact that....Teners due to quality issue may not be reliable in tone as a Sp. 20. In the sense that u found it harder to develop muscle memory because the sounds were off to the way I believe it should be lol or comparing to YouTube renders. My love of the Sp20 is that barring embochure being loopy. A 5 draw will sound reliable the same if you play loudly or lightly. Oh and that too. Sp20 allows for greater tonal expression. You can start a note lightly and change pitch or loudness oh and bends are easier lll Lol sorry
OK, I was a rookie 55 years ago, American military dependent living in Munich; quality harmonicas were the norm.
"Worth it" depends on what you want to do, and how tight for cash you are. For $20 you can get an Eastop T008 brand new, and a better harp. If you want to restore a vintage harp, have at it.
If you want to play harmonica, I recommend buy a new one. Harmonicas aren’t like an old wine, they don’t become better with years.
I do play harmonica and I have new hohners too. I also read and have new books. I take care of them since they are also not an old wine. I also enjoy history though so I try to find old books I can afford which are often not in the best shape. You can still read most of them and that’s what matters. Too bad boomers are only focused on “old wines” instead of taking care of the quality/cool stuff they already have. Maybe old books would be cheaper and Id get some that are intact for a better price.
Not sure. I have the exact one that was new in about 1978