One of the favourite items in my Fitzroy football memorabilia is the 1974 Laurie Richards caricature sticker collected from a Kellogg's Corn Flakes cereal box. These stickers sell today for $100 plus if they are still in their cellophane packet. Being in the right place at the right time is extremely important in the recording … Continue reading Decalcomania
An interestingly named mouth organ that sold Down Under in the 1920's (I think) is the Budgeree - pictured here in Seydel's 1923 catalogue. Budgeree is an East Gippsland town (for want of a better description) which is a relatively short journey from our abode. Blink and you'll miss it as there's only a few … Continue reading It’s All Good (ya know)
The elusive Hohner Auto Valve Vamper! One in the flesh - picture courtesy of Riff Raffer Mark Hand, all the way from Okriftel. If your interested in detail about this oxymoron there's information here - Hohner’s Hollandia (Nova) Harp. Ray Grieve has published his revised edition of Boomerangs & Crackajacks with newly researched material on … Continue reading Via et Veritas
In following up on our May article on mini moothies (four and five holes) that weighed in at one and three eight inches, here is a quick peek at the small ten holers. The standard diatonic is commonly four inches in length, while the Junior models that many brands supplied were usually a wee bit … Continue reading Three Inches Big
I stumbled across this 1927 advertisement in an unrelated search, which piqued my interest and warranted further investigation. The Union Company of Elizabeth Street in the City of Melbourne were selling this vest pocket mouth organ for a shilling (post free). It had the added feature of a powerful magnifying glass to view an interesting … Continue reading Beware Choking Hazard!
As Neddy Seagoon would exclaim, "What! What! What!" In this 1937 advertisement the Glaz-o-phone can only be obtained from the The British Music Academy (King Street, Sydney), however in 1936 it was available from the Godfrey College, whose Director was a Mr. Godfrey F Clark. Perhaps Godfrey College which had been established for nearly forty … Continue reading What! What! What!
A few interesting finds added to the Aussie Models timeline. (Weston Langford Photograph) When I was a lad riding the rails the train of choice was the Red Rattler. If a Bluey pulled in I would sometimes wait for the next one in hope of riding the Red. The Tait class of train was far … Continue reading Riding The Red Rattler
Will the real Sydney Dickens please stand up? There has been some confusion on the identity of Sydney Dickens or should I say Professor Dickens. On Melbourne's Empire Records back in 1908, two wax cylinder recordings were pressed containing mouth organ medleys credited to 'Professor' Dickens (these are Australia's earliest known mouth organ recordings). For … Continue reading By Dickens
Hi Riffers, "The line of 'Make America great again,' the phrase, that was mine, I came up with it about a year ago, and I kept using it, and everybody's using it, they are all loving it. I don't know, I guess I should copyright it, maybe I have copyrighted it." "Sorry losers and haters, … Continue reading Trump the Mouth Organ
Gidday Riff Raffers, Ooh, my little pretty one, my pretty one. My my my aye-aye whoa! Quite awhile back I discovered advertising for this unusually named harmonica, the Harola. I endeavoured to locate its origins and to see if it was actually unique to the Australian market. My initial attempts failed dismally and it would … Continue reading M-M-M-My Harola
Harmonica Riff Raff 