HawkeyeKane
2331 posts
Feb 19, 2014
9:20 AM
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No....this isn't gonna be a thread asking about Huangs. I just came across this yesterday and my mind was slightly blown by it. I knew Sears sold a number of different types of musical instruments and amplifiers under the Silvertone brand over there years....but I didn't know harmonicas were among them as well! Found this old 1949 catalog page on SilvertoneWorld.
Pretty much every Silvertone item was manufactured by an outside company, like Danelectro, Thomas, Kay, Teisco, etc. I'm wondering who made the harps? The plastic harp on the catalog page has a US patent pending number on the coverplate. Wondering if these were made by either Kratt or Finn Magnus? Anyone have any of these?
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Hawkeye Kane
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barbequebob
2475 posts
Feb 19, 2014
9:55 AM
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These look like they were made by the William F. Kratt Company, which was based out of NJ and the ONLY harmonicas that were ever 100% fully manufactured in the USA and it was started by former Hohner employees. I have a few Kratt harps that I bought in the early 70's and the overall construction looks much like Kratt.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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HawkeyeKane
2332 posts
Feb 19, 2014
9:58 AM
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I was thinking they looked like Kratts, Bob. But what about that all-plastic one? Didn't Magnus solely hold the patent for that? I know there was some confusion on who really developed the plastic comb (even though Kratt ultimately got the patent for that bit), but did Kratt also make all-plastic harps?
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Hawkeye Kane
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barbequebob
2476 posts
Feb 19, 2014
10:04 AM
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I remember seeing an all plastic harp from Kratt, but as far as who actually holds that patent, I'd probably check with either Winslow Yerxa or Pat Missin and the both of them are some of the most knowledgeable peoplw I know of when it comes to harmonicas.
The all plastic harps were fine for a little kid fooling with harmonica but they never really held up well in pro use.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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HawkeyeKane
2333 posts
Feb 19, 2014
10:11 AM
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Winslow...if you're still online here, can you confirm or disprove?
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Hawkeye Kane
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nacoran
7539 posts
Feb 19, 2014
12:20 PM
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My understanding was the Magnus harps were all American, but I don't remember where I came by that piece of information. (I've got a bunch of them. They play terribly, but some of the ones with metal covers look great. Some of them have a sloped comb (Huang Musettes have a similar, if longer comb).
I'm making them into a wall display clock. I was hoping to have it done by now, but this year has started out kind of crazy. I don't want to do any woodworking that will kick up dust until I've completely got rid of this cough. (I've been unable to play harp for 3 weeks and only just started playing again the last couple days and it still makes me cough.)
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Nate
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OldGeezer
10 posts
Feb 19, 2014
3:06 PM
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I don't know who made all of them, but harp 'G' was made by Harmonic Reed of Philadelphia. They played terribly - leaked air like a sieve
Regards,
Paul N.
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barbequebob
2477 posts
Feb 20, 2014
10:06 AM
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I'd suggest getting in touch with Pat MIssin, who may be able to shed some more light here.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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