Marked Jews harp - and just one of those weird detecting things that happens

[Iron Patch]

So I'm out recently and a friend digs one of these atypical shaped jews harps and I say cool, Ironhorse and I have found one each (maybe 2) in 35 combined years of digging, so they are not a common find. We get back that night and he shows me his is marked "AG" ...and I say that is cool, the owner engraved his initials into the side... I'll have to research that property for you and see if we can get a match. I then grab mine out of a display case saying here's mine, and hand it to him. He then hands it back and says there's the AG. Damn! I had this thing for almost 10 years and had no clue it had a maker's mark on it. So now Ironhorse and I are not only intrigued by the shape, but also because it is marked.

So the next day we are out again, at least an hour drive from where he had dug the harp, and you guessed it... I dug another weird triangle type. Unfortunately it's only the top portion so I do not know if it was marked. Here is the one from my case, and I did clean around the letters as it wasn't near as visible before which is why it was missed. (Drew, now that I have cleaned mine can you double check to make sure it's different.. think it was obvious, but just to be 100%)

 

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[kingskid1611]

Maybe they are attracted to you. Nice find

 

[Bramblefind]

There's a harp with that mark listed here:

Jew's Harp - UK Finds Database -

A copper-alloy Jew's harp of lozenge-shaped, tapering, cross-section and with a triangular shaped bow. The tongue/spring or lamella is missing.

One arm is stamped with the capital letters "AG" which may be the maker's initials or indicate the place of manufacture; in this case perhaps, the Canton (County) of Aargau [AG] in Northern Switzerland, where many similar examples have been found.

This instrument has been mass-produced since the 16th century with major production centres in Upper Austria, Italy and Birmingham, England.

Note regarding dating:
Jews' harps have been found in archaeological contexts that date as early as the 13th century. The basic design has changed very little and the characteristic lozenge-shaped cross-section of the arms was the usual form until at least the 18th century. Dating can be problematic.

 

[Iron Patch]

There's a harp with that mark listed here:

Jew's Harp - UK Finds Database -

A copper-alloy Jew's harp of lozenge-shaped, tapering, cross-section and with a triangular shaped bow. The tongue/spring or lamella is missing.

One arm is stamped with the capital letters "AG" which may be the maker's initials or indicate the place of manufacture; in this case perhaps, the Canton (County) of Aargau [AG] in Northern Switzerland, where many similar examples have been found.

This instrument has been mass-produced since the 16th century with major production centres in Upper Austria, Italy and Birmingham, England.

Note regarding dating:
Jews' harps have been found in archaeological contexts that date as early as the 13th century. The basic design has changed very little and the characteristic lozenge-shaped cross-section of the arms was the usual form until at least the 18th century. Dating can be problematic.

Very interesting. Many in Northern Switzerland... who would have thought.

 

[Iron Patch]

[h=2]17th Century Jaw harp from Dingwall[/h] 01 October 2011
News Type:Find of the MonthThis 17th century jaw harp (jew’s harp) is a recent metal detector find from Dingwall. Other examples with the distinctive triangular bow have been found in the Highlands from Dornoch and Fortrose. They must have been very popular, and provide a rare example of early music by ordinary people. Like many found on archaeological sites, it is missing the tongue, suggesting that it broke and was discarded.

Inverness Museum and Art Gallery INVMG 2008.034.002

17th Century Jaw harp from Dingwall - ARCH Highland

 

[Iron Patch]

Case marked AG with a confirmed date... which I believe makes much more sense then 17th century.

National Museums of Scotland - Wooden case for a Jew's harp

 

[cerebus]

Think the AG looks different for sure, is pretty cool. Was a shock when you had same mark first! Great to have an ID.

 

[Escape]

Interestingly, the jews harp is considered one of the oldest musical instruments in the world.

 

[sutphin]

DANG THE DAY I FIND ONE OF THOSE I GONNA GIVE IT HAEL .... NICE NICE FIND THEIR PATCH .....

 

[garren]

Could this AG stand for A 440 Hz tuning in the key of G? Jews harps came in different keys like harmonicas.

Heres the wiki article that explains the A440 Hz tuning.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A440_%28pitch_standard%29


Heres a link to a place that sells modern harps that lists all the keys they're available in.
Jaw Harps - Tuned -

Heres an auction with a pretty good pic showing how harmonicas are stamped with this designation.
Marine Band Harmonica M Hohner Germany No 1896 in Box Key of G A440 | eBay

 

[Iron Patch]

Could this AG stand for A 440 Hz tuning in the key of G? Jews harps came in different keys like harmonicas.

Heres the wiki article that explains the A440 Hz tuning.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A440_%28pitch_standard%29


Heres a link to a place that sells modern harps that lists all the keys they're available in.
Jaw Harps - Tuned -

Heres an auction with a pretty good pic showing how harmonicas are stamped with this designation.
Marine Band Harmonica M Hohner Germany No 1896 in Box Key of G A440 | eBay

If "A 440 Hz tuning in the key of G" makes sense and a harp could be tuned to that, it does seem like a viable theory. A subject I know absolutely nothing about so never would have come up with it.

 

[tamrock]

Never gave a lot thought about this instrument til now. Pretty interesting stuff. I had one when I was a kid. They sold em in about every corner store and five & dime back then. I played with and thought the thing was no big deal and lost interest in it I'm sure. All it did was go boying, boying, boying.... Huh! 440 Hz. Could be the reason why the Mopar 440 Six pack sounds so frigging sweet?.

 

[DCMatt]

From the UK Finds Database:

One arm is stamped with the capital letters "AG" which may be the maker's initials or indicate the place of manufacture; in this case perhaps, the Canton (County) of Aargau [AG] in Northern Switzerland, where many similar examples have been found.

DCMatt

 

[Iron Patch]

From the UK Finds Database:

One arm is stamped with the capital letters "AG" which may be the maker's initials or indicate the place of manufacture; in this case perhaps, the Canton (County) of Aargau [AG] in Northern Switzerland, where many similar examples have been found.

DCMatt

See post #3.

 

[DCMatt]

See post #3.

I should have known that Bramblefind would beat me to it.

 

[pepperj]

That's pretty cool having a maker's mark on the harp, I believe the few that I have are just plain.