✅ SOLVED Harmonica ID/History

[Underwonder]

Hello,
I have found harmonica reeds in the past but was so happy to clean up this dirty, odd object to find it is a harmonica. It has engravings on it and patent dates. It indicates Germany. I couldn't find the maker nor are any visual matches coming up for me. It appears to be key of D or E.

I am always glad to get some help.

Thanks!
Kim

 

[Red-Coat]

Neat find. This was sold as the ‘Clover’ harmonophone (note the clover trademark) with a metal megaphone resonator, like this:

Clover Harmonophone Harmonica

This harmonica was made by C. A. Seydel Söhne, undetermined place, after 1900. It is a Clover model, with 10 single holes. This harmonica has a wooden…

americanhistory.si.edu

It was made by C. A. Seydel Söhne (‘Söhne’ means ‘son’ in German) and the company still exists today in Klingenthal, Germany):

C.A. SEYDEL SÖHNE - Handmade in Germany since 1847

Welcome to the oldest harmonica factory in the world. Feel free to browse through the SEYDEL web!

www.seydel1847.de

The U.S. Patents references are:

#642642, dated February 6, 1900, by Ferdinand Strauss, for a harmonica with a resonating chamber.

#423642, dated March 18, 1890, by John F. Stratton, for a new and improved mouth harmonica.

#483160, dated September 27, 1892, by Ottomar Meinel, for improvements to mouth harmonicas.

#605083, dated June 7, 1898, by Charles L. Curtis, for an improved harmonica.

Here's the February 6, 1900 patent for the attachment:

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, FERDINAND STRAUSS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of East Orange, Essex county, New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in harmonicas, of which the following is a specification.
This invention relates to a mouth-harmonica, provided with a resonating-chamber, through which the air is ejected from the cell block to increase the volume and timbre of the tone. The resonating-chamber is of peculiar construction and is removably attached to the body of the harmonica proper, so that it is optional with the player to use the latter with or without the former.

 

[Underwonder]

Neat find. This was sold as the ‘Clover’ harmonophone (note the clover trademark) with a metal megaphone resonator, like this:

View attachment 2225933

Clover Harmonophone Harmonica

This harmonica was made by C. A. Seydel Söhne, undetermined place, after 1900. It is a Clover model, with 10 single holes. This harmonica has a wooden…

americanhistory.si.edu

It was made by C. A. Seydel Söhne (‘Söhne’ means ‘son’ in German) and the company still exists today in Klingenthal, Germany):

C.A. SEYDEL SÖHNE - Handmade in Germany since 1847

Welcome to the oldest harmonica factory in the world. Feel free to browse through the SEYDEL web!

www.seydel1847.de

The U.S. Patents references are:

#642642, dated February 6, 1900, by Ferdinand Strauss, for a harmonica with a resonating chamber.

#423642, dated March 18, 1890, by John F. Stratton, for a new and improved mouth harmonica.

#483160, dated September 27, 1892, by Ottomar Meinel, for improvements to mouth harmonicas.

#605083, dated June 7, 1898, by Charles L. Curtis, for an improved harmonica.

Here's the February 6, 1900 patent for the attachment:

View attachment 2225937
To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, FERDINAND STRAUSS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of East Orange, Essex county, New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in harmonicas, of which the following is a specification.
This invention relates to a mouth-harmonica, provided with a resonating-chamber, through which the air is ejected from the cell block to increase the volume and timbre of the tone. The resonating-chamber is of peculiar construction and is removably attached to the body of the harmonica proper, so that it is optional with the player to use the latter with or without the former.

Thank you! That's great info.! I have to laugh because even after several brushings and seeing the clover, I just kept seeing the word as "LOVER" LOL.

Very interesting. I appreciate your time and effort. I never knew some harmonicas had a megaphone!