Clover Harmonophone No. 7 Harmonica: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This harmonica was made by an unknown maker in Germany, after 1800. It is a Clover model, in the Key of C, with 10 double holes and 20 reeds. This harmonica has a wooden and metal comb with a metal cover plates attahced to thhe top and bottom with screws and nuts. The harmonica fits inside a metal megaphone resonator. Accessioned with original carboard container. The instrument is engraved:

Clover Harmomophone TRADEMARK (REGISTERED) U.S. PATENT NO – 423642 – MAR.18.1890

This instrument features U. S. Patent 423642, dated March 18, 1890, by John F. Stratton for improvements in harmonicas.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Object Name: harmonica
• Physical Description: wood (overall material)
• Physical Description: metal (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 5 7/8 in x 4 in x 3 1/2 in; 14.9225 cm x 10.16 cm x 8.89 cm
• Measurements: harmonica: 2 1/2 in x 5 3/4 in x 3 3/4 in; 6.35 cm x 14.605 cm x 9.525 cm
• Measurements: box: 2 5/8 in x 4 3/8 in x 5 1/2 in; 6.6675 cm x 11.1125 cm x 13.97 cm
• place made: Germany
• ID Number: 1988.0783.547
• accession number: 1988.0783
• catalog number: 1988.0783.547
• Credit Line: The Peter Kassan Collection
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.