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Harmonica played by DeFord Bailey

African American Museum

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    Object Details

    Manufactured by

    Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co. KG, German, founded 1857

    Used by

    DeFord Bailey, American, 1899 - 1982

    Subject of

    Matthias Hohner, German, 1833 - 1902

    Description

    A Hohner Marine Band Series Harmonica played by DeFord Bailey. The harmonica features stainless steel cover plates, a light brown wooden comb, ten holes, and a dark brown, wooden mouthpiece. The top cover plate is stamped with a profile portrait of Matthias Hohner depicted inside an oval shaped frame with a laurel wreath below. To the right of the portrait is stamped large, hatched text above script text that reads [MARINE BAND / M. Hohner]. Stamped on the far left edge of the top cover plate is the text [A440] and the letter [A] is stamped on the far right edge. Stamped along the bottom edge of the front cover plate and the hole numbers: [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10]. The bottom cover plate is heavily stamped with graphics and text of varying sizes and fonts. At the center of the plate is a graphic of a ring, gripped on either side by two hands. Text stamped inside the ring reads [GESETZL / GESCH]. Stamped above the left and right hands is the text [TRADE] and [MARK]. Stamped below in large text is [M. Hohner]. To the left of the center graphic are four rings: two overlapping smaller ones on the far left and two larger rings closer to the left hand graphic. Devices stamped inside the far left rings include one of a person standing between two winged figures and a man’s laurel wreath covered head shown in profile. The other two rings feature the text [ULM] and [1871] at the center of each ring. Text surrounding the far left rings read [D.VERDIENSTE] stamped vertically on the far left and [WEIN] and [1893] stamped above and below the rings. To the right of the center graphic are four rings: two overlapping smaller ones on the far right and two larger rings closer to the right hand graphic. Devices stamped inside the far left rings include one of a laurel wreath below three rows of triangles and the other of a seated toga-clad figure shown in profile with their arm extended. The other two rings feature the text [STUTT- / GART] and [1881] at the center of each ring. Text surrounding the far right rings read [GR.BRONCE] stamped vertically on the far right and [PHILAD.] and [1876] stamped above and below the rings. Stamped along the bottom edge is the text [MADE IN GERMANY] on the left and [FABRIQUÉ EN ALLEMANDE] on the right.

    Credit Line

    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Christine Bailey Craig

    Date

    ca. 1976

    Object number

    2022.3

    Restrictions & Rights

    No known copyright restrictions
    Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

    Type

    harmonicas

    Medium

    stainless steel, metal and wood

    Dimensions

    H x W x D: 11/16 × 3 15/16 × 1 in. (1.8 × 10 × 2.5 cm)

    Place made

    Baden-Württemberg, Germany, Europe

    Place used

    United States, North and Central America

    See more items in

    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

    Classification

    Musical Instruments

    Exhibition

    Musical Crossroads

    On View

    NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

    Data Source

    National Museum of African American History and Culture

    Topic

    African American
    Blues (Music)
    Country (Music)
    Instrumentalists (Musicians)

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5495d2d5d-222a-4fbb-b8f3-29720adf7f29

    Record ID

    nmaahc_2022.3

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