Hohner Penta from 1955
Posted: Sun May 31, 2020 11:28 pm
Does anyone know this harmonica?
Or even better: Does anyone coincidentally own one?
Original picture out of the book "Hohner - The Living Legend" by H. Wenzel and M. Häffner
embossing of the coverplate shown more clearly visible, as far as I could reconstruct
Conversion of the solmisation on the harmonica based on DO = C;
SO and LA is likely to mean "lower octave";
DO, RE, MI, SO, LA is likely to mean "middle octave";
and DO, RE, MI with line above is likely to mean "high octave";
whereby I assumed that "SO" means "SOL".
The meaning of the numbers (2 to 5) and of the corresponding brackets do not disclose themselves to me. The missing "1" could be corresponding to the open bracket (???) from SO LA DO on the left and DO RE MI on the right.
Can anyone imagine what might be their meaning?
However the great but important unknown is what notes are on the bottom reedplate. If the answer to this question is known, it would be easy to create such a harmonica by detuning or configuration (*). If one has an instrument to play with, maybe it might be possible to find out the meaning of the cryptic numbers and brackets.
Maybe it might be a good idea to ask Hohner, if there is left anyone who possibly knows anything about the instrument. Or maybe they have one at their museum? At least anyone must have taken the photograph.
dear greetings
triona
*) @ Brendan: This would be a proper task for the "Modular Reed Harp".
Are there any news about it?
Or even better: Does anyone coincidentally own one?
Original picture out of the book "Hohner - The Living Legend" by H. Wenzel and M. Häffner
embossing of the coverplate shown more clearly visible, as far as I could reconstruct
Conversion of the solmisation on the harmonica based on DO = C;
SO and LA is likely to mean "lower octave";
DO, RE, MI, SO, LA is likely to mean "middle octave";
and DO, RE, MI with line above is likely to mean "high octave";
whereby I assumed that "SO" means "SOL".
The meaning of the numbers (2 to 5) and of the corresponding brackets do not disclose themselves to me. The missing "1" could be corresponding to the open bracket (???) from SO LA DO on the left and DO RE MI on the right.
Can anyone imagine what might be their meaning?
However the great but important unknown is what notes are on the bottom reedplate. If the answer to this question is known, it would be easy to create such a harmonica by detuning or configuration (*). If one has an instrument to play with, maybe it might be possible to find out the meaning of the cryptic numbers and brackets.
Maybe it might be a good idea to ask Hohner, if there is left anyone who possibly knows anything about the instrument. Or maybe they have one at their museum? At least anyone must have taken the photograph.
dear greetings
triona
*) @ Brendan: This would be a proper task for the "Modular Reed Harp".
Are there any news about it?