Wayne Raney Talking Harmonica: Museum Object and Cultural History
Wayne Raney Talking Harmonica: Date made: ca 1972. maker: Sterling Instrument Co.. Object Name: harmonica.
The object in the museum catalogue
This harmonica was made by Sterling Instrument Co. in Union, New Jersey, around 1972. It is a Wayne Raney Talking Harmonica model in the key of A, with 10 single holes and 20 reeds. This harmonica has a brown plastic comb with metal cover plates attached to the top and bottom with screws and nuts. Accessioned with original cardboard box. The harmonica is engraved:
Wayne Raney (1921-1993) was an American country singer and harmonica player. Raney was a well-known harmonica player who was able to make his harmonica "talk".
Materials, dates and provenance
- Date made: ca 1972
- maker: Sterling Instrument Co.
- Object Name: harmonica
- Physical Description: plastic (overall material)
- Physical Description: metal (overall material)
- Physical Description: paper (overall material)
- Physical Description: ink (overall material)
- Measurements: harmonica: 3/4 in x 3 7/8 in x 1 1/16 in; 1.905 cm x 9.8425 cm x 2.69875 cm
- Measurements: box: 13/16 in x 4 1/4 in x 1 5/16 in; 2.06375 cm x 10.795 cm x 3.33375 cm
- place made: United States: New Jersey, Union
- ID Number: 1988.0783.328
- accession number: 1988.0783
- catalog number: 1988.0783.328
- Credit Line: The Peter Kassan Collection
- Data Source: National Museum of American History
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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.
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