Another One (not just like the other one)

Hohner Up To Date Chromatically Tuned

Once upon a time in the west (actually south east and down under), there was a lonely 1898 Hohner Up To Date Chromatically Tuned Harmonica residing quietly in a shack in the Dandenongs (now in a shanty on the Bass Coast). Discovered in May of 2019 even further south in Franklin, Van Dieman’s Land, research was undertaken and an article penned.

Then there would be two Up To Date Chromatically Tuned Harmonicas, soon three, four, and then Doug Dawson, Canadian harmonica collector, decided he’d get in on the action – of course he would. Not only did he locate a specimen, it was a hybrid model in wonderful condition. It arrived resplendent with mouse ear cover plates and in the Key of ‘A’! Even the box appears divergent.

Reverse plates, but right side up (low notes to the left, slide depressor on right).

F A Bohm Triller

In the same year the Up To Date Chromatically Tuned came into existence, F A Bohm had a patent for their Triller (for a trilling effect – it is not a Chromatic), which is very similar in design. This was sold by Paling’s of George Street Sydney in 1899.

Museum Exhibit

The German Harmonica and Accordion Museum in Trossingen was generously donated a model (Mark Hand) not long after my discovery. They were out there, baby.

The photo they used for their exhibit of the month (February 2020) is elongated and I pondered if this had a few mote apertures or was merely the angle of the dangle. I’ve been reliably informed by Mark Weber, it is the same geometry and a ten hole like the others. This harmonica is in the key of ‘A’ too.

In the museum’s write up they suggest the slide is on the left, “The legendary Chromonica did not follow until 1910, then with the slide button on the right side, not on the left as in this model.” On my specimen it certainly ain’t – the top cover is the trademark cover that has the low notes to the left and thus the slide on the right. The Up To Date stamped cover plate is the bottom one. Pat Missin has alerted me that up to 1920-ish old Hohner’s had the trademark cover plate on top.

Vertical Openings

As noted by Mark Weber in his review of the Up To Date Chromatically Tuned, the sliding mechanism is quite unique with the reed plates extended beyond the comb to become part of the tracking system for the slide (maybe not so airtight).

Up To Date Chromatically Tuned – slide out/slide in (Vertical divisions)

The other notable feature is the vertical openings of the reeds. Here Pat ‘Guru’ Missin elucidates. “Each hole opens to a pair of reeds (one blow one draw) that are paired vertically, rather than horizontally as in most other slide designs. This allows for a shorter/faster button push, as well as potentially changing the way the reeds interact.” He also makes mention of a new chromatic harmonica using a similar concept, JDR’s Trochilus.

Patentet?

Interestingly (but not very funny), all have patented spelt incorrectly.

1910 The Chromatic Harmonica

The 1910, The Chromatic Harmonica had a button slide and horizontal openings. Perhaps the box is referring to these changes as the improvements on the Up To Date Chromatically Tuned.

Here tis, advertised by Nicholson & Co. of Sydney in 1913 as ‘HOHNER’S celebrated Chromatic’.

A patent for Hohner’s chromatic harmonica didn’t appear until 1926 with the invention credited to David Newman of California.

Hohner’s 1926 Patent (Horizontal divisions)

Prototype

Another model from the German Harmonica and Accordion Museum in Trossingen (photo courtesy of Joel Andersson)

Joel Andersson provides a photo of a prototype model from a hidden drawer in the museum. It has the Up To Date Chromatically Tuned cover plate (on top) and it has the vertical slots.

This design has a button attached to the mouthpiece of eleven apertures with the mouthpiece being the moving component on an external spring. How could this possibly work? I’m reliably informed by Mark W once again, this is a ten hole model.

There were designs that had a mouthpiece that slid over the top of holes, but those I have witnessed were for non chromatics and were very different than this design. Check out What! What! What!.

Non Sliders

Koch had this non slider with an amplifying bell for a short period of time in 1926. The half tones sound when you turn the lower part of the bell slightly.

Recently I came across this 2003 patent by W. Vernon Smith of California. A hands free chromatic with a vertical mouthpiece moved up or down by the mouth that creates a greater airtight harmonica. Head to Pat Missin’s post for more information – Vern.

And the there’s Seydel’s recent release The NONSLIDER Chromatic DE LUXE STEEL that has a curved mouthpiece – look’s difficult to me.