Pretty pleased to have stumbled over this beauty - a pretty slick Suisse Boomerang Chromorgan. This model and the Grand Chromorgan (there was no De Luxe model) were briefly produced in Switzerland after WWII. Albert’s Boomerang mouth organs were manufactured by Seydel, who were under occupation by communist Russia after WWII - so briefly Albert’s … Continue reading Suisse Piece
Left: My recent acquisition Right: Echophone graphic from a 1953 Hohner catalogue. By happenstance I was able to add this beauty to my collection. I think part of my fascination with the Echophone is the link back to Sydney Dickens of Carlton, Melbourne who had an invention of the same name and type back in … Continue reading Tubular Organ
W H Paling & Co was founded by William Henry Paling, who was born in Rotterdam Holland in 1828. When he turned thirty, he headed to the 'Great Southland' disembarking in the Port of Sydney. His first enterprise (pictured right) consisted of not more than a tin shed in York Street, Wynyard. In 1883 he … Continue reading Topnotch Palings
Picked up this harp and box for a starting bid of a fiver. Well, I thought I did. Three times he apologised and said it would be in the next post - never did see it in the flesh. An Australian Job! I knew they weren’t a perfect match, but I was still interested in … Continue reading The Italian Job
I had a sneak peak of the box (first time) for the unfortunately named Boss Cracker and managed to snap a photo before it disappeared (just as quick as it appeared) off the ether (internet). Interesting to see the claim, ‘The World’s Best Vamper’, wonder who judged that - F A Rauner? This mouth organ … Continue reading Sampson the Israelite (Ohhh ohh)
Shep’s La Traviata The Box top sticker for my model. Several years back I picked up this La Traviata mouth organ for a couple of bucks from The Amazing Mill Markets in Daylesford, Victoria. It was nothing fancy, but a model I wasn’t familiar with. I certainly had no plans to write anything about it … Continue reading The Dog Went Nuts!
I viewed a repeat episode of American Pickers awhile ago where they stumbled across a Cracker Jack vending machine. It set my brain cogs into motion (backwards) revisiting our famous Crackajack mouth organs sold by Allan’s of Melbourne. The cogs clunked to a stop on both why the name Crackajack and why advertising featuring the … Continue reading Nautical Jack
Albert's Boomerangs were big in 'Terra Australis' right from the gecko. Made exclusively by Seydel for Frank Albert. You might not be aware that Seydel's Bandmaster, similar in design to some of the Boomerangs, was sold at least as early as 1912 at Flights of Bendigo and even the trademark was lodged for registration 'Down … Continue reading Seydel’s Bob Each Way
Gypsy mouth organs were available for purchase in the ‘Great Southern Land’ in the 1920’s. They weren’t exclusively produced for our market and probably their branding had little affiliation with consumers, but they were still being sold here in the thirties. Gipsy mouth organs were manufactured by Gotz of Germany. C.A. Götz was founded in … Continue reading Gypsys Gotz & Beers
Besses o' th' Barn Band's visits to Australia, by the sound of it, had many similarities with the wild scenes experienced when the Beatles landed Down Under in the sixties. It wasn't just in the popularity stakes either, but also in the proliferation of punters taking up playing a brass instrument (or mouth organ - … Continue reading Besses & Beatles
Harmonica Riff Raff 