Magnus Harmonica Corporation

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The Magnus Harmonica Corporation (originally International Plastic Harmonica Corporation ) was founded in New Jersey in 1944 by the Danish immigrant Finn Haakon Magnus (1905-1976). Initially he supplied the American troops during the Second World War , later he marketed the harmonica , accordions , bagpipes , and harmonies from his company to children and other budding musicians.

background

The sound-producing tongues of the instruments were cast from a single styrene plastic comb . This construction was cheaper to manufacture and more durable than metal tongues. Compared to other straight reed instruments, this gave it its own typical sound.

In 1958, Magnus merged with TV salesman Eugene Tracey's company to sell cheap electric harmonies and music books in millions. Until the late 1970s, this was done under the name Magnus Organ Corporation . First, table-top devices were made. Portable, free-standing, and devices with racks and music stands followed . Magnus worked in the best times of his company more than 1800 employees in Linden (New Jersey) including polling workers , in a " mothers layer " ( "Mother's Shift") during school hours and non-violent release prisoners ( "Work Release Program") of the East Jersey State Prison .

After Tracey retired, the editor of the World Book Encyclopedia acquired the production and repertoire of Magnus instruments.

Models

Magnusorgan.jpg
Magnus 300
Magnus670.jpg
Magnus 670


Magnus 890 electric chord organ.JPG
Magnus 890
Magnus 890 electric chord organ chord pad detail.JPG
Chord keypad of the Magnus 890


Magnus 890 electric chord organ manufacturers stamp.JPG
Nameplate stamp
Magnus 890 electric chord organ inside blower detail.JPG
Magnus 890 bellows unit


  • 300: table instrument, 2 octaves , 6 chords , brown or cream-white plastic case, 1960s
  • 302: table instrument, 2 octaves, 6 chords, brown plastic case with wood pattern finish
  • 303: free-standing, 3 octaves, 6 chords, 6 minor chords, brown plastic case, 1970s
  • 306: free-standing, 3 octaves, 6 chords, 6 minor chords, brown plastic case
  • 322: table instrument, 2 octaves, 6 chords, cream-white plastic case
  • 350: table instrument, 2 octaves, 6 chords, brown plastic case
  • 360: table instrument, 2 octaves, 6 chords, cream-white plastic case, 1970s
  • 380: table instrument, 2 octaves, 6 chords, cream-white plastic case with wood pattern paint, 1960s
  • 391: table instrument, 3 octaves, 6 chords, 6 minor chords, brown plastic case, 1970s
  • 400: table instrument, 3 octaves, 6 chords, 6 minor chords, brown plastic case, 1970s
  • 481: table instrument, 3 octaves, 6 chords, 6 minor chords, brown plastic case, 1970s
  • 500: table instrument, 3 octaves, 6 chords, 6 minor chords, brown natural wood case, 1970s
  • 535: free-standing, 3 octaves, 6 chords, 6 minor chords, wooden case, 1968/1969
  • 545: free-standing, 3 octaves, 6 chords, 6 minor chords, wooden case
  • 549: free-standing, 3 octaves, 6 chords, 6 minor chords, 6 bass notes, 1960s
  • 655: table instrument, 3 octaves, 6 chords, 6 minor chords, plastic case with wood pattern paint, 1970s
  • 660: free-standing, 3 octaves, 6 chords, 6 minor chords, 6 seventh chords , brown plastic case
  • 665: table instrument, 3 octaves, 6 chords, 6 minor chords, brown plastic case with wood pattern paint, 1970s
  • 668: table instrument, 3 octaves, 6 chords, 6 minor chords, brown plastic case
  • 670: free-standing, 3 octaves, 6 chords, 6 minor chords, brown plastic case, 1970s
  • 700: table instrument, 3 octaves, 8 chords, 8 minor chords, plastic case with wood pattern finish
  • 890: free-standing, 3 octaves, 8 chords, 8 minor chords, 8 bass notes, wooden case, 1960s
  • 1510: portable instrument, 2 octaves, without chord keys, brown Bakelite case, 1950s
  • 8100: table instrument, 3 octaves, 6 chords, 6 minor chords, brown plastic case, 1960s
  • Disney Edition: Model 360 in an orange plastic case, late 1970s

literature

  • Are you ignoring a $ 1,000,000 idea? In: Popular Science September 1951, p. 43 ff. ( Books.google.de )

Web links

Commons : Magnus Harmonica Corporation  - collection of images, videos, and audio files

supporting documents

  1. Pat Missin: Finn Magnus: Man of Plastic . In: American Harmonica News . September. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  2. Pat Missin: Magnus Plastic Harmonicas . Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  3. Robert H. Fetridge: Along the Highways and Byways of Finance . In: The New York Times , September 17, 1950. Retrieved November 10, 2015. 
  4. Finn Magnus: How I Made a Million. In: Stag.
  5. Mark Hunter: The Finn Magnus Story. Odin Press, New York 1960, OCLC 1463825 .
  6. Ralph Freas: 'Play by Numbers' Organ Hottest Musical Merchandise . In: Billboard , May 11, 1959. Retrieved November 10, 2015. 
  7. ^ Agnes Ash: Organ Business a Super Market . In: The Miami News , July 30, 1961. Retrieved November 9, 2015. 
  8. ^ Magnus Organ Homepage 2012 ( Memento from November 3, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) DB Electronics, North Carolina.