Popping up in my research a few years back was evidence of the existence of a Jazz Master Chromatic. Victorian Laurie Smith evidently possessed one. A year after publishing this information, so did Canadian collector Doug Dawson. Where did he locate this Australian brand harmonica? Of all places in Sweden. Doug Dawson’s specimen. Recently I … Continue reading Wizard Master Blaster
Spectrum/Murtceps Daddy Cool The Dingoes Chain Country Radio Fraternity Mental As Anything John Farnham Band Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band Sid Rumpo Dynamic Hepnotics Western Flyer The Elks Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs Carson SCRA - Southern Contemporary Rock Assembly Galapagos Duck Langford Lever Stars Big Pig Snowdroppers Midnight Oil Mickey Finn Hoodoo Gurus Things Of … Continue reading Aussie Groups (with Lickin’ Stick)
Started out seeking fortune and glory It's a short song, but it's a hell of a story, when you spend your lifetime trying to get Your hands on the Holy Grail Mark Seymour Eureka! Lucky strike! Location: Tamworth the heart of Country music and former venue of the now defunct Hohner Golden Harmonica Championship. The … Continue reading Barran (The Holy Grail)
I’m sure most of you have heard of The Great Train Robbery of 1963 when the Roy Mail train from Glasgow to London was brought to a halt and robbed. Some of you may even be familiar with The Great Bookie Robbery of 1976 when six men stole between fourteen and sixteen million from bookmakers … Continue reading The Great Mouth Organ Heist
Harmonikings of Melbourne - Noel Marshall (left), Frank Munro & Roy Cooper. Des Bettany Trio - Des Bettany (left) on chords, Des Grigg on melody, Hank Middendorp on Bass Bettany Trio - Dad & Boys (L to R: Des, Keith and Graham) The Harmonicaires - Byron and Murray Knipe and Kim van Dokkum Lionel Easton … Continue reading Harmonica Trios
That’s wot’s in the box. An old 1934 Crackajack counter top display. Courtesy of the Lumsden family whose Great Uncle exhibited in his Newsagency. David Lumsden kindly provided extra detail to HRR. “My great uncle's name was Cliff Cairns and his newsagents was at 524 Toorak Rd, Burwood, at the then tram terminus. He ran … Continue reading Honeycomb Home
1946 The Smilers Club 2BH began broadcasting in July of 1934. In 1936 The Barrier Miner newspaper acquired the proprietorship of the radio station and announced that, “they are now in the position to give the people of Broken Hill the most up-to-date and complete service in the form of news and entertainment.” (The Barrier … Continue reading Bluey Watkins & the Harmonica Humbugs
Victor de Lano. Harry Thompson from Sydney, who accompanied Tex Morton on early Regal Zonophone recordings. Left: Larry Adler with daughter Kate Lynn (2) in Oz. Right: Larry with two lads from the Melbourne Children’s Hospital. Guess who? Left: Don Chromatic Duo with John Don and 11 year old daughter Elaine (1949). Right: Master Walter … Continue reading Bibs & Bobs
Cuckoo Accordion Antiques give history context and history gives antiques context. Left: My first (& I’ll say last) accordion. Right: Sawtell & Consoli were advertising the Cuckoo Accordions in 1926 Look what I stumbled on in Wonny. A cousin of my Cuckoo mouth organ, a diatonic button accordion where bellows blow the air over the … Continue reading Cuckoo Again!
Who made who, who made you?Who made who, ain't nobody told you?Who made who, who made you? If you made them and they made you Who picked up the bill, and who made who? Yeah who made whoWho turned the screw? AC/DC This article is a combination of quite a few drafts for separate articles … Continue reading Who Made Who?
Harmonica Riff Raff 