Magnus Super Scout Harmonica: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This harmonica was made by Magnus Harmonica Corporation in Newark, New Jersey, around 1947. It is a Super Scout model, with 10 single holes and 20 reeds. This harmonica has a dark red plastic comb with metal cover plates attached to the top and bottom with open rivets. It is engraved and stamped:

TRADEMARK MAGNUS HARMONICA CORPORATION NEWARK 4, NEW JERSEY U.S. PATENT Nos 2,373,129 2,407,312 – 2,416,451 MADE IN U.S.A. OTHER U.S. AND FOREIGN PATENTS PENDING

U. S. Patent #2372129, dated April 10, 1945, for the construction of the reed plate and reeds for instruments of the harmonica type by Finn H. Magnus.

U. S. Patent #2407312, dated September 10, 1946, for harmonicas in which the reeds or

reed plate, or both the reeds and reed plate are formed of a plastic composition by Finn H. Magnus assignor to International Plastic Harmonica Corporation.

U. S. Patent #2416451, date February 25, 1947, for a method of and making integral reed plates and reeds by Finn H. Magnus assignor to International Plastic Harmonica Corporation.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: ca 1947
• maker: Magnus Harmonica Corporation
• Object Name: harmonica
• Physical Description: plastic (overall material)
• Physical Description: metal (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 13/16 in x 4 3/16 in x 1 1/8 in; 2.06375 cm x 10.63625 cm x 2.8575 cm
• place made: United States: New Jersey, Newark
• ID Number: 1988.0783.324
• accession number: 1988.0783
• catalog number: 1988.0783.324
• patent number: 2373129
• 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.