Lee Oskar "Oskarmonica" with Key Chain: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This harmonica was made by Lee Oskar Harmonicas in Japan, about 1990. It is a Miniature “Oskamonica” on a key chain, with 4 holes and 8 reeds. It has a black plastic comb with metal cover plates attached with screws and nuts. Accessioned with original clear plastic case. The harmonica is engraved:

Lee Oskar Harmonicas was founded in 1983 by harmonica virtuoso Lee Oskar, in collaboration with Tombo Manufacturing of Japan.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: ca 1990
• Object Name: key chain
• Physical Description: plastic (overall material)
• Physical Description: metal (overall material)
• Measurements: harmonica: 7/16 in x 1 3/8 in x 9/16 in; 1.11125 cm x 3.4925 cm x 1.42875 cm
• Measurements: box: 9/16 in x 1 7/8 in x 1 11/16 in; 1.42875 cm x 4.7625 cm x 4.28625 cm
• place made: Japan
• ID Number: 1991.0366.04
• accession number: 1991.0366
• catalog number: 1991.0366.04
• Credit Line: Gift of Lee and Leslie Darrell Oskar
• 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.