HARMONICA

The origins of the harmonica can be traced back as far as 5000 years. An ancient chinese instrument called the sheng was know for its unique ability to create sound by both blowing and drawing air. The modern harmonica went through several cumbersome and chunky incarnations before the compact pocket sized harmonicas that we know today. This popular instrument was created in its current format by a German watchmaker, Mathias Hohner in the 1850's. He sent some over to his cousins who had emigrated to America to see if they could sell them and while the general population found them to be a rather curious thing musicians and buskers came to love them for the bright sound and decent volume, portability and price.