1925 - Wonthaggi Boomerang Mouth Organ Championship Ballarat & Wonthaggi Mouth Organ Competition advertising Left: Weekly Times Saturday 29 August, 1925. Right: The Sun News-Pictorial Saturday 29 August, 1925. The roaring twenties were in full swing at the seaside town of Wonthaggi and in 1925 the local ANA (Australian Natives Association) Musical & Elocutionary competition … Continue reading Wonthaggi Warblers
The Band Contest Committee established precedent, as far as Maryborough is concerned, when it held a mouth-organ contest in the Town Hall last night. There was a fair crowd present, but as the Mayor (Alderman. C. H. Adam) pointed out when addressing the audience, the attendance was disappointing from a national point of view. As … Continue reading Middle of the Organ – Short Snort (Organ) #10
Another Aussie harp in the collection. Yes that’s right, an Aussie harp. After a fair bit of research I can conclusively establish its authenticity. Who would have thought? Never associated them with here, however there are twelve species of Australian Cuckoos. None of which have the cuck - oo call. The largest of our Cuckoo’s … Continue reading Brood Parasitism
Circa 1926? “I am delighted to give my experience as a Mouth Organ player for the last thirty-seven years, making my debut at six years of age. I have played on almost every make of Mouth Organ that has been manufactured, and now I would not play on any Mouth Organ other than a Crackajack. … Continue reading Crack A Duck
Horrie Dargie is one of Australia’s most famous Harmonica exponents. He had a quintet in the forties and fifties that hold the honour of achieving Australia’s first gold record. The Horrie Dargie Concert (1952) was a wire recording taken from their Sydney Farewell Concert held before they left on a tour of the UK. Sadly … Continue reading Horrie’s Harmonicoptysis – Short Snort (Organ) #9
A recent acquisition to the collection from a Brisbane second hand dealer was The Lone Star Rider Hohner Harmonica. Not really in my wheelhouse (except for the the price), but I was having withdrawal symptoms having not acquired any Aussie ‘Arps for some time. I remember when I was young and the world had just … Continue reading Yippee ki – yay!
Ernest Garibaldi Hosking conjured his inaugural appearance on this mortal coil at the gold mining town of Ballarat in 1861, the seventh child of Samuel Hosking and Mary Hosking. He was a compositor by trade and employed on a ‘spiritist’ newspaper in Melbourne. Ernest was a man of many talents, one of which was the … Continue reading Hosking’s Haunting Harp
After 13 year-old Peter 0'Halloran, of 2 Dalton Street, Wagga, was injured in a street accident on Friday night and all he was worried about was his mouth organ. The lad was playing the mouth organ while riding a bicycle, and he had a bag over his head to protect him from the rain. He … Continue reading Mouth Organ Crash – Short Snort (Organ) #8
Following on from presenting my Suzuki Animatronic last month, I thought I would reveal my Hohner counter swivel shop display. Shaped like a ten hole tin can (only plastic) harmonica. It houses twenty harmonicas that can be viewed through Perspex windows. My counter top display features eight autographed harps by Aussie greats. From top to … Continue reading Hohner Houses
Cobber: Australian and New Zealand informal - a friend/mate (male). Word origin: from dialect cob to take a liking to someone Source: Collins English Dictionary. Bauer & Krause Here I go again off to find the maker of the Aussie Cobber mouth organ sold exclusively by Jackson & MacDonald of Druitt Street, Sydney. We had … Continue reading On The Trail Of The Cobber Coach.
Harmonica Riff Raff 