Harmonica owned by Sonny Boy Williamson II
date: label: Date
content: ca. 1940
name: label: Created by
content: Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co. KG, German, founded 1857
label: Used by
content: Sonny Boy Williamson II, American, 1912 - 1965
notes: label: Description
content: A brass Hohner Marine Band harmonica owned and played by Sonny Boy Williamson II.
label: Description
content: A hand-length metallic harmonica featuring a reddish brown comb with engraved embossing’s on both sides the instrument’s face. The comb has 14 chamber holes. On one side of the harmonica are the founding figure’s bust engraving framed by crossed leaves and “MADE IN GERMANY”. Beside it in light embossing is “MARINE BAND” with “M. Hohner” engraved at the bottom like a signature.
label: Description
content: On the reverse side of the harmonica are multiple circular embossed engravings representing the history of the manufacturer. The two handed “GESETZL./GESCH” logo, is featured in the middle. On either side of the iconic logo are circular embossing’s depicting harps, eagles, wreaths, plaques, and years (1983 to 1937), with “MADE IN GERMANY / FRABRIQUE EN ALLEMAGNE” engraved at the bottom, below the M. Hohner embossing.
place: label: Place made
content: Germany, Europe
label: Place used
content: Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Blues (Music)
label: Topic
content: Instrumentalists (Musicians)
label: Topic
content: Music
label: Topic
content: Musicians
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Musical Instruments
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2021.59.2
objectType: label: Type
content: harmonicas
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No known copyright restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: brass (alloy), copper, metal and wood
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D: 1 × 6 5/16 × 11/16 in. (2.5 × 16 × 1.8 cm)