- On View
- Musical Crossroads Gallery
- Museum Maps
- Objects in this Location
- Exhibition
- Musical Crossroads
- Created by
- Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co. KG, German, founded 1857
- Used by
- Thornton, Big Mama, American, 1926 - 1984
- Date
- ca. 1950
- Medium
- brass (alloy) , wood , metal and plastic
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 1 × 3 15/16 × 11/16 in. (2.5 × 10 × 1.7 cm)
- Description
- A brass Hohner Old Standby harmonica owned and played by Big Mama Thornton.
- This bright brass harmonica in the key of ‘E’ with several engravings on front and back and a brown wooden comb with ten chamber holes. On one side of the well-worn instrument, from left to right, is the Hohner company six-point star. Engraved across the top is [M. HOHNER’S OLD STANDBY] with a (raised engraving of) “Founder of the Factory” icon. On the bottom is [REGISTERED / MADE IN GERMANY] and [M.HOHNER]. The numbers one through ten are engraved below.
- On the reverse side of the harmonica are several circular embossing’s and engravings representing the history of the manufacturer. From left to right is “D.VERDEIENSTE” (engraved vertically); two circular engraved embossing’s depicting family and a figurehead under “WIEN” (Vienna) with “1873” below them and “ULM / 1871” to their right. To the left of the middle raised engraving of “TRADE MARK” and a two handed “GESETZL./GESCH” logo, are circular engraved embossing’s which read “STUTT/GART / 1881” and “PHILAD / 1876” and “G.R.BRONCE”.
- Classification
- Musical Instruments
- Type
- harmonicas
- Topic
- Blues (Music)
- Instrumentalists (Musicians)
- Jazz (Music)
- Music
- Musicians
- Rhythm and blues (Music)
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2021.59.1
- Restrictions & Rights
- No known copyright restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




