G'Day Raffers, First rate mouth organs for sixpenny were sold in Australia as early as 1904 by Allan & Co under the Australian slang terms for first-rate, Boshter and Bonzer. (With permission City of Sydney Archives) In 1908 Chapman's of 634 George Street Sydney sold the Bosker in two models the Vamper for 1/6 and … Continue reading Bosker! Bonzer! Boshter!
A quick question Riff Raffers. What do we have two of, we can do without one, the right is larger than the left, they have lobes and they act like bellows? If you said lungs your right on the money. This remarkable sponge-like organ situated in the thoracic (chest) cavity functions closely with the myocardium … Continue reading Dr. Bellows
G'Day Riff Raffers, It's an Australian hop, the Kangaroo hop, but it's also the German hop. Earlier this year I found The Kangaroo mouth organ in of all places Riga, Latvia. I had believed in the beginning that this was manufactured by Seydel for Albert's here down under. In Ray Grieve's magnificent resource book Boomerangs … Continue reading Kangaroo Hop (The Swiss Connection)
Hi Riff Raffers, A new, very old harp housed in its original box now resides in my humble collection. Mark Weber has meticulously investigated and reviewed technical aspects of the harp at chromhistory. What follows is an account of my pursuance from world experts on how, when and where this Hohner harp, 'The Up To … Continue reading Chromatically Chromonica Chronologically
Hi Raffers, A quick look at an Australian harmonica box owned by Canadian harmonica collector, Doug Dawson, a couple of record reviews and a link to an article written by Mark Weber about a new addition to my harp collection, which is rewriting Chromatic history, Hohner's very first Chromatic, the Up-To-Date model from 1898! Just … Continue reading Hotel Metropole
Hello Raffers, Here we go again a track back (or is that a back track) to the Crackajack. Further evidence the manufacturer was F A Rauner. Just a spelling difference for the Straylian market, perhaps. Registered number 28285 appears in a magnificently presented PDF file entitled, 'A Collection Of Early Box Art 1890-1940' by John … Continue reading #28285
Hohner, a world leader in accordion and mouth organ manufacturing, had its share of difficulties in becoming one of the major players in the Australian Mouth Organ market in the early part of the twentieth century. Most models were available in the colonies and they included the popular ‘Up To Date’ and ‘Second To None’ … Continue reading Hohner’s Hollandia (Nova) Harp
A timeline of Australian models (an attempt), as promised a while back. An up-to-date remastered version is out now. Just click here Remastered. 1896-Woolloomooloo Warbler (Seydel/Alberts) originally had a patent bone lip protector, Kangaroo Chalmer (Seydel/Alberts)-Later that year King Billy (Seydel/Alberts)-two sided & another with bells maybe later at 3s 5d, The Federal Harp-(Ernst Hess/J Hess & … Continue reading Aussie Harmonicas – Timeline
Hello Riff Raffers, Recently I acquired somewhat fortuitously, a ‘Cobber’ harmonica tin. The top of this once colourful tin has a three dimensional graphic of the harmonica that should lie within. However the harp inside wasn’t a ‘Cobber’ and it's name had been incorrectly identified by the seller (maybe a Dawg Blawg down the line). … Continue reading Cobber & Co.
Hi Riff Raffers The epic journey set out on the first of October, 2018. The trekking party consisted of Pat Missin, Ray Grieve and myself. We were in search of a gold nugget. Just as George Leavis Allan had done in 1853 when he took out a gold licence (#88) and went prospecting at Campbell’s … Continue reading Quest For The Maker
Harmonica Riff Raff 