Calling all Cobbers

I’m often asked what I consider to be my prize possession. Although I have a very rare 1898 Hohner Up To Date Chromatic, a Koch Kangaroo and various Boomerangs and Crackajacks, I have to say this one hundred and ten year old Cobber Tin with all its patina fits the bill. Why? Well there’s something about harmonica tins with great graphics, then throw in its rarity and how I discovered this gem and there you have my reasons.

I came across this mouth organ housing on a well known online auction platform being advertised ‘harmonica with tin’. The harmonica (The Music Teacher) inside was not a match. The fact that I was the only bidder meant the item sold for cheap as chips! See more on Jackson & MacDonald’s Cobber in previous posts Cobber & Co and On The Trail Of The Cobber Coach.

On further research, I now believe the time span on the sale of the Cobbers was a lot shorter than previously thought. The Cobbers, which were imported from Bauer & Krause (Leipzig), were only available for a couple of years from mid 1912 up to the start of the Great War. And thus their scarcity. In scouring the papers, the latest advertisement was December 1915 for Williams of Rockhampton and this is quite likely to be old stock.

Jackson & MacDonald’s Dominion Accordion was also imported from Bauer & Krause.

The Cobber did reappear in September 1936 as E Paskins of West Maitland had at least one. There is a possibility someone else trademarked the name (TM’s had to be renewed every ten years), but I’m leaning to this also being old new stock. This Cobber wasn’t readvertised in December. Paskins also offered other old models in 1936, the Woolloomooloo Warbler, Topnotcher, Moaphone, Coo-ee, Wallaroo, Possum and Kookaburra.

Thank to Pat Missin for supplying the trademarks.

Down Under

One With Steve Williams

Well your week's been a little bit loco
The days went a little too slow
Your boss is little too highly strung
And your paycheck's a little too low
You take it one day, one step at a time
Spinning like a hand on the clock
And little by little yeah little by little
A little turns into a lot

Steve Williams’ brilliant harmonica overlays this country rocker from The Wolfe Brothers, actually he’s thrown the kitchen sink to it with a panoply of chops. He thought his session effort would probably be heavily edited, but it wasn’t. Well done producer. As the boys have previously proclaimed Steve has taken their ditty to another level. Oh the power of a ten hole tin can.

The Tasmanian brothers immediately knew the tune needed the people’s instrument and there was only one man for the task – having been fans of the John Farnham Band and Steve’s musical talents. The only question was his availability. A phone call interrupted Steve’s reno (he was up a ladder painting a room in his house). Steve responded in the affirmative and I would imagine he’d rather be blowing the harp than painting. There is a rumour Steve might be joining the boys when they perform at the York on Lilydale, Mt. Evelyn on Friday August 30.

Little By Little has a message about the current cost of living and highlights the trouble with the trickle down economics ideology. In fact at present there’s not even a trickle. No shouting your mates on a Friday for a frothy it’s hard enough to buy yourself one – fifteen bucks for a pint. Or even buy yourself a harmonica (over a hundred now), let alone one for each key!

Up Over

Two With & One Without

Glad these quality tunes arrived at HRR headquarters thanks to their Australian publicist. First up is the title track from Texan songwriter Keegan McInroe’s album Dusty Passports & Empty Beds. A country folk ditty that floats while imparting a positive take on an uncertain time (If hindsight is 20/20, I hope to never look back again). The harmonica embellishments are from the talented Gary Grammer, who is known for his work with Dr. Wu & Friends. Head over to Bandcamp to pur-chase.

Next is Alberta based Ryland Moranz’s first single When I’m Gone from his new album ‘Better/Worse’, set to be released later this year. This laid-back folk/country tune takes a look at our place in the universe. This is what Ryland imparted on his tune. “I wanted to write something that embraced the entropy of the human condition; something that showcased how even if you’re not meant to be anywhere, where you are is where you’re meant to be, even if it’s just for a moment. Because nothing lasts forever, but nothing is truly forgotten, either.” Ryland enriches the tune with Banjo and guitarist Scott Smith adds texture with a wee bit of harp.

Last, but definitely not least, is the talented San Fran songwriter producer Mickelson with his 2015 toon Hercules & Iron Man. I was wondering why this had been rereleased so I shot off an enquiry to publicist Stuart Coupe. “We’re just releasing some of his best older songs in the lead up to the new album and his return to Australia!” I hadn’t heard Hercules & Iron Man before now and I was blown away – pure aural perfection. No harmonica, but there’s more banjo (do love the banjo – it’s the old timey thing) from Mickelson himself. Talented individual as the fabulous artwork is his as well!

Little Richie

This is the only reference I could find of Little Richie, the great trick mouth harmonica player. In fact I only found one other reference for Rogers & Burnett’s Theatrescope where the company is referenced as being really good, and the pictures shown by electric light are absolutely devoid of flicker. Anyone out there in cyberspace a descendant of Richie?

Riff Raff

A feature article was dropped earlier this month where I was searching for the harmonica player on Neil Diamond’s Brooklyn Roads – check out Church Avenue.

While we’re on a roll, we’ll have another feature next month and that will relate a tale of a session piece that Steve Williams recorded in the 1990’s – the article is titled Harley & Harp.

Ruffled Feathers (Barnaby Jones wisdom)

“When one egg is broken you blame the chicken, but if they’re all broken you get the feeling a fox has been in the henhouse.”

Good friend of HRR Switzerland’s Mark ‘Unconventional’ Weber has just released an amazing CD. Mark is not only an authority/collecter on all things Harmonica Chromatic, but he is also a crack musician on the instrument. Recently we had been in contact on another matter and just as a matter of fact Mark informed me, “One other thing I forgot to tell you. Not sure about your music taste but if you happen to like harmonica in tango and classical music, I just came out with my new album ‘Unconventional’. It is available on CD and all major streaming platforms.” My reply went thus, “It might not be my style, but I appreciate great musicianship. There will certainly be some of my readers who will love this (Slingsby for one)”. Head over to Mark’s website harmonicaconcerto for all the details.

Vale John Mayall (1933 – 2024)

May seem peculiar how I think of you. If you want me, darlin’ here’s what you must do. You gotta give me ‘cause I can’t give the best unless I got room to move.

Please check home page for copyright details.