Look what I picked up from our local Bazaar. Although not in my wheelhouse, I thought why not. A harmonica made in Japan by Nippon Gakki (later Yamaha). It’s probably about as old as me - pretty old then, vintage, but not antique! They obviously made their way across the Pacific Ocean to our sunny … Continue reading Made In Japan
What in the heck is the name on this F A Rauner harmonica that’s being offered (no box) for sale in Box Hill? I know it’s manufactured by F A Rauner from the reverse plate, where his name and logo is prominent. Rauner was prolific in the Antipodes with several Australian monikered harmonicas - the … Continue reading Vorpostenboot Rosemarie
Ruffled Feathers - Ol’ Shep (with special guests Zach Grace & Lachlan - Young’un Shep) Stream/Buy here Ruffled Feathers How to follow up my first hit (well huge in Biddleonia) Locomotive Weave, which uses a train rhythm as its basis? Well why not another ol’ timey harmonica piece - a fox chase. Although only loosely … Continue reading Home To Roost
Charles Porter blowing his Crackajack upside down (Photograph- Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy ACP Magazines Ltd). The origins of this dissertation came about due to the discovery of this newspaper report from 1933 (see below) that expounded Charles Porter’s upside down technique in drinking beer and playing the harmonica. It … Continue reading Over Under Sideways Down Hey!
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
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?
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
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.
NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT Two - In - One A ten-hole harmonica is used, and the four centre holes are drilled right through the back. These holes are then closed by means of an improvised valve of the accordion type, which can be made from a small spring paper clip. A suitable kazoo is … Continue reading The Great (Harmonica) Kazoo
Harmonica Riff Raff 