Owner: HWMC
Catalog#: CL-AEFR-10
Free Reeds
F. J. Strauss & Co. 'Loudspeaker - Doraphone' Harmonica
Germany
F. J. Strauss & Co.
Metal, wood
ca. 1925
Height: 4 in; Width: 4 in; Depth: 4 in
Wind Instruments – Free Reeds
Harmonica is stamped on top and bottom: STRAUSS / TRADE MARK – REGISTERED – D. R. G. M./ DORAPHONE – LOUDSPEAKER – C / MADE IN GERMANY
This is a rare 1925 Strauss Loudspeaker Harmonica (a/k/a Doraphone Harmonica) that has the unique feature of having a phonograph/Victrola style loudspeaker horn projecting from the rear of the instrument. The U.S. Design Patent 68717 was granted on November 10, 1925 to Henry Katz, an employee of the F. A. Strauss Corporation, and they was produced individually until 1926. A particularly novel feature of this famous Loudspeaker model, is that the horn connects to the base with a bayonet-type mount which allows the horn to rotate and point in different directions.