Two recent acquisitions for the Shep museum. Firstly this Hohner Echo Tremolo (pictured above), which has an interesting back story. The Hohner Echo brand dates back to the turn of the twentieth century. This ‘Made In England’ Echo to circa 1949 post WWII.
Hohner had some harmonicas assembled in England using German made parts around WWII. With Germany on the nose, the ‘Made in England’ stamp was a no brainer.
The trademark appears to be unique to the UK made harmonicas with the star centred within four circles. John Whiteman, an American collector, thought the circles around the star resembled the RAF roundel.
More on the Hohner TM here Cowboy Reins.
A label on the end of the box states ‘part manufactured and assembled in England’. John Whiteman also suggested that perhaps only the cover plates had been manufactured in England.
Guru Pat (Missin), responding to HRR, stated that English production was limited to around WWII. I also queried the location of the English factory. Pat replied;
“I’m still piecing that together. They were basically the usual Hohner satellite office, based in London, handling distribution, promotion and after sales service, etc. When war was declared in 1939, ownership quickly got transferred to Hohner US, who had been independent of the German parent company for some time. Apparently, they must have been stockpiling supplies for a while, but I don’t know what their manufacturing or assembly capability was, or where it was based during wartime.
It has just struck me that it is a little odd that they made, or at least assembled Hohner harmonicas in England during WWII, but not in the USA. I’ve not thought of that before”.
This is now bugging the hell out of Pat. Sorry about that chief (guru). Keep an eye out over on Pat’s website for an update.
Secondly, I also picked up this Signature Series for a song – Sportin’ Life. Big fan of Sonny Terry and the chug a luggin’. These striking boxes are advertised in certain stores as limited editions. But are they? And, how limited is limited? K J Music suggests the signature series are not limited. Dane from Mando Harp informed HRR that “Hohner don’t say how many of the Sonny Terry ones they made. They don’t usually say how many they make for any of the signature series, though they do usually say limited edition on all of them.” I contacted Hohner by email (twice) for information, but mum’s the word over there.
Serious collectors do like to know how many are out there even if they’re not numbered.
You could probably ascertain my penchant for Sonny from my hit single Ruffled Feathers.
More on Sonny here Buffalo Blues Burger.
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Harmonica Riff Raff 
l wonder, did he ever actually use a stamp himself – l think it was his management. I do have his rough ST signature on a few albums . And his wife signed his name on all contracts beautifully along with signed photo’s in beautiful writing. I think on the rough ST sign offs are Sonny’s not the stamped documents etc. Happy to be proven wrong.
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Reasonable question. I have seen a ‘Back Country Blues’ album that has been signed by Brownie and stamped ‘Yours Truly Sonny Terry’ online. https://tinyurl.com/y9j78xb7 Cheers Shep
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I suspect it was an offical legal thing, like a company seal. It certainly was used on music contracts and l have a few his wife signed also, nice and neat.
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Great read again Shep.
I believe the war years had many conundrums regarding sourcing materials like metals, plastics, boxes, etc. Certainly vintage fountain pen enthusiasts have difficulties identifying pen parts which are deemed almost Frankenstein Monster-esque in make. Parts being used ad hoc and tweaked to fit effectively and so produce sellable products. Maybe the same with Harps.
Even later, in the late 1960s and early 1970s the Volkswagen Early and Late Bay ‘camper van’ designs were changed mechanically and bodily to some degree. In 1972, the Crossover Bay had bits of both Early and Late in the building of them. That 1972 period is a fascinating detective situation as factory boxes of various parts were raided for supplies to get vehicles out from the factories due to demand. Mines a 1972 Crossover! Have to be careful when I buy parts. I have a few boxes of secondhand parts bought in earnest off eBay that are useless for my Bus.
Cheers Shep. Hope you are better off weather wise.
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War, huh, yeah, what’s it good for? I came across a newspaper clipping that states the RAF bombed harmonica factories which had been commissioned for aircraft production. The reconnaissance was obtained from British mouth organists. “From embossments on the organs and letterheads the British built models of factories, which were then used as a guide to the bombers. The data thus obtained helped to bring about the destruction of key plants and workshops at Munich, Linz, Regensburg, Rosenheim, Salzbund other places, Augsburg, including the Skoda works in Czechoslovakia, which are now 300 acres of total ruin.” (The Argus Sat 26 Jan 1946)…days are getting longer and a few decent days of sunshine. 👏🏻. How’s Angie? S
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Even more impact on top of the ‘home front’ need to redirect materials used in other industries for war need equipment, etc. . Changing the factories uses meaning, if destroyed, a massive effect on possibly never seeing the manufacture of certain domestic everyday items ever returning again. Must be some fascinating reading material regarding the short or long term effects on certain industries during that terrible period.
Thanks for asking. Angie has finally had her ultra sound scan last Wednesday. Still awaiting the result. We were told it would be looked at by the consultant and then a letter sent back to the GP doctor. Could take up to six weeks. She is just getting on with life. But obviously it plays on the mind. The largest refrigerator in her shop went wrong overnight a few days ago. Fans found to be faulty and need replacing and the temperature rose way above safety standard by morning. £3,000 of food had to be thrown away. Health and Safety standards meaning there was no way it could be used. Even given away for free means investigation! Throwing it away is the only option. So stress and all the weird stuff in life carries on. She’s gone in really early today to see in a massive replacement order delivery from suppliers. Brought in extra staff. Chilled food needs dealing with quickly. And it’s Market Day too. So the shop will be especially customer chaotic.
It’s hot or cooler but dry over here currently and really affecting the farming crops. Not enough rain. Persistent rain’s detrimental impact last year and now too much Sun and dry spells impacting crops this year. So food prices have soared again. I saw a TV interview with a farmer who had a whole huge field of carrots suffering from lack of water. Each carrot had grown to the size of a small runner bean. Crazy old world isn’t it Shep.
Cheers and all the best.
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Certainly is Gray. That was all you needed! I guess that’s why they call it the blues.
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Yup! But there is a sweet therapeutic emotional release when you can pour it into playing a guitar and singing out your emotions alongside it. 😊. Or blowing your inner feelings into harp reeds and creating something beautifully emotional and soulful too. Cheers Shep.
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thats one cool collectors case! 👏👏
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