Baltimore, Md, Made in Germany
Rolmonica Music Company

Bakelite, metal, wood, paper
ca.  1928
Height: 2.75 in; Length: 5 in; Width: 3.75 in
Wind Instruments – Free Reeds

Harmonica is engraved:  ROLMONICA / Made by ROLMONICA MUSIC CO. / Baltimore, Md / Made in Germany

A Rolmonica combines the paper roll technology of player pianos with a 12-note harmonica built in a Bakelite (plastic) frame.  Tunes are played while the operator simply blows and turns the crank to advance the perforated paper roll.  Advertised in the late 20s as “The Pocket Player Piano”, the claim that anyone could play it was certainly true but heralding it as “A Veritable Pocket-Size Jazz Band” was perhaps stretching it a bit.

This instrument features U. S. Patent #RE16986E, dated June 5, 1928, a reissue of U. S. Patent #1560497, dated November 3, 1925 by Joseph Le Roy Banks for a musical instrument.