Diatonic harmonica, C
Maker
Christian Weiss
Date1907-1928 ca.
Place MadeTrossingen, Germany, Europe
ModelPipeolion
Serial No.None
SignedStamped and painted gold on the front casing: MADE BY / Ch. Weiss / GERMANYMarkingsStamped and painted gold on the front casing: FULL ORGAN / TONE / PATENT APPLIED FOR / Pipeolion / TRADE MARK
Stamped and painted gold on the back casing: [music staff with notes] / HOME SWEET HOME
Stamped inside each pipe, visible from the bottom: 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
DescriptionChristian Weiss's "Pipeolion" was introduced in Germany in 1907. The design includes ten brass horns, each containing two reeds (1 blow, 1 draw), mounted on a fan shaped wooden comb. This harmonica's large range is tuned diatonically over three octaves. The flip-top cardboard box, which is even rarer than the instrument, has two identical labels in various colors, with lots of gold highlighting. In the center is an image of the instrument. On the left is a fancy wreathed male bust with "ALWAYS HARMONIOUS" above and "Ch. Weiss" This model was only made for four or five years and was never copied.
DimensionsLength: 200 mm
Width: 14.2 mm
Height: 14.1
Length of longest bell: 53 mm
Length of shortest horn: 44 mm
Horn diameter: 22 mm
ProvenanceAlan G. Bates Collection, Hockessin, Delaware, 2000.
Published ReferencesRandall, Lee Raine. "From the Alan g. Bates Collection: Trumpets, Zeppelins, touring Automobiles, and One Last Cartridge." _America's Shrine to Music Museum Newsletter_ 28, No. 4 (November 2001): 4.
Randall, Lee Raine. "Rare Harps." _Harmonica World_ (April/May 2002): 9.
Credit LineAlan G. Bates Collection, 2000
Object number09486
On View
Not on view
1900 ca.
