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Herb Shriner's Hoosier Boy Harmonica

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Hohner, M.
Description

This harmonica was made by M. Hohner in Germany, about 1965. It is a Herb Shriner Hoosier Boy model in the key of C, with 10 single holes and 20 reeds. The harmonica has a brown stained wooden comb with gold-tone enameled metal cover plates nailed to the top and bottom. It is accessioned with its original cardboard box. The harmonica is stamped:

[caricature of Herb Shiner] Herb Shiner
Hoosier Boy

(and the box is marked):

HERB SHINER’S
HOOSIER BOY

M. HOHNER HARMONICA MADE IN GERMANY

Herbert Arthur "Herb" Shriner (1918-1970) was an American humorist, radio personality and television host. He learned to play harmonica in grade school and continued to play throughout adulthood. In between playing harmonica, Shriner told stories about a fictional Hoosier hometown. This became his performance style throughout his radio and television appearances.

Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
The Peter Kassan Collection
ca 1965
ID Number
1988.0783.070
accession number
1988.0783
catalog number
1988.0783.070
Object Name
harmonica
Physical Description
wood (overall material)
metal (overall material)
paper (overall material)
ink (overall material)
Measurements
box: 1 in x 4 3/16 in x 1 5/16 in; 2.54 cm x 10.63625 cm x 3.33375 cm
harmonica: 3/4 in x 4 in x 1 in; 1.905 cm x 10.16 cm x 2.54 cm
place made
Germany
See more items in
Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments
Music & Musical Instruments
Popular Entertainment
Harmonicas
National Museum of American History
Record ID
nmah_1306132
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a9-c110-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

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