The Magnus Harmonica Corporation (originally the International Plastic Harmonica Corporation) was founded in 1944 in New Jersey by Danish immigrant Finn Magnus (1905–1976).[1] First supplying American troops in World War II, and later marketed to children and other beginners, the company's harmonicas (as well as its accordions, bagpipes, and mechanical reed organs) used a then-unique molded-plastic reed comb. The styrene-based plastic construction resulted in lower cost, greater durability, and a distinct sound compared to other free reed aerophones with metal reeds.[2][3][4][5][6]
Magnus Chord Organ Model 300Magnus Chord Organ Model 670Magnus Chord Organ Model 890Magnus Chord Organ, Chord Pad, Model 890Magnus Chord Organ Model 890, manufacturer stampMagnus Chord Organ Model 890, inside blower detail
In 1958, Magnus joined with television salesman Eugene Tracey, and their company went on to sell millions of inexpensive electric chord organs and song books[7][8] until the late 1970s under the name Magnus Organ Corporation. Early Magnus Chord Organs were either laptop or tabletop models, with some of the later models having integrated legs and a lighted music stand.[9] At its peak, Magnus employed over 1,800 workers in Linden, New Jersey, including a "mother's shift" during school hours and a "work release" program for non-violent inmates of the nearby Rahway State Prison.[citation needed]
After Magnus and Tracey retired, the publishers of World Book Encyclopedia ultimately acquired the Magnus sheet music catalog and ceased production of Magnus instruments.[citation needed]
Magnus harmonica modelsedit
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (November 2015)
Magnus organ modelsedit
300: Tabletop Model, Two Octave, Six Major chord, Brown or Cream Plastic Case - c. 1960s
302: Tabletop Model, Two Octave, Six Major chord, Brown Plastic Case with faux wood
303: Free-Standing Model, Three Octave, Six Major chord, Six Minor chord, Brown Plastic Case - c. 1970s
306: Free-Standing Model, Three Octave, Six Major chord, Six Minor chord, Brown Plastic Case
350: Tabletop Model, Two Octave, Six Major chord, Brown Plastic Case
360: Tabletop Model, Two Octave, Six Major chord, Cream Plastic Case - c. 1970s
380: Tabletop Model, Two Octave, Six Major chord, Cream Plastic Case with faux wood - c. 1960s
391: Tabletop Model, Three Octave, Six Major chord, Six Minor chord, Brown Plastic Case - c. 1970s
400: Tabletop Model, Three Octave, Six Major chord, Six Minor chord, Brown Plastic Case - c. 1970s
468: Tabletop Model, Three Octave, Six Major chord, Six Minor chord, Cream Plastic Case - c. 1970s
481: Tabletop Model, Three Octave, Six Major chord, Six Minor chord, Brown Plastic Case - c. 1970s
500: Tabletop Model, Three Octave, Six Major chord, Six Minor chord, Real Wood Case
535: Free-Standing Model, Three Octave, Six Major chord, Six Minor chord, Real Wood Case - c. 1968/69
545: Free-Standing Model, Three Octave, Six Major chord, Six Minor chord, Real Wood Case
549: Free-Standing Model, Three Octave, Six Major chord, Six Minor chord, Six Bass Notes - c. 1960s
655: Tabletop Model, Three Octave, Six Major chord, Six Minor chord, Faux Wood Case
657: Tabletop Model, Three Octave, Six Major chord, Six Minor chord, Brown Plastic Case with faux wood - c. 1970s
660: Free-Standing Model, Three Octave, Six Major chord, Six Minor chord, Six Seventh chord, Brown Plastic Case
665: Tabletop Model, Three Octave, Six Major chord, Six Minor chord, Brown Plastic Case with faux wood - c. 1970s
668: Tabletop Model, Three Octave, Six Major chord, Six Minor chord, Brown Plastic Case
670: Free-Standing Model, Three Octave, Six Major chord, Six Minor chord, Brown Plastic Case - c. 1970s
700: Tabletop Model, Three Octave, Eight Major chord, Eight Minor chord, Faux Wood Case
890: Free-Standing Model, Three Octave, Eight Major chord, Eight Minor chord, Eight Bass Notes, Wood Case - c. 1960s
1510: Laptop Model, Two Octave, No Chord buttons, Brown Bakelite Case - c. 1950s
8100: Tabletop Model, Three Octave, Six Major chord, Six Minor chord, Brown Plastic Case - c. 1960s
Disney Edition: Same as Model 360 but has Orange Plastic Case - c. late 1970s
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Magnus Harmonica Corporation.
Notesedit
^"Social Security Death Master File". Retrieved April 21, 2017. Social Security number ... was issued to FINN MAGNUS, who was born 14 August 1905 and, Death Master File says, died August 1976.
^Missin, Pat. "Finn Magnus: Man of Plastic". American Harmonica News. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
^Missin, Pat. "Magnus Plastic Harmonicas". Retrieved November 9, 2015.
^Fetridge, Robert H. (September 17, 1950). "Along the Highways and Byways of Finance" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
^Hunter, Mark (1960). The Finn Magnus Story. Odin Press. ASIN B0007E31M8.
^Freas, Ralph (May 11, 1959). "'Play by Numbers' Organ Hottest Musical Merchandise". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
^Ash, Agnes (July 30, 1961). "Organ Business a Super Market". The Miami News. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
^. North Carolina: DB Electronics. 2012. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
April 13, 2024
magnus, harmonica, corporation, other, uses, magnus, disambiguation, originally, international, plastic, harmonica, corporation, founded, 1944, jersey, danish, immigrant, finn, magnus, 1905, 1976, first, supplying, american, troops, world, later, marketed, chi. For other uses see Magnus disambiguation The Magnus Harmonica Corporation originally the International Plastic Harmonica Corporation was founded in 1944 in New Jersey by Danish immigrant Finn Magnus 1905 1976 1 First supplying American troops in World War II and later marketed to children and other beginners the company s harmonicas as well as its accordions bagpipes and mechanical reed organs used a then unique molded plastic reed comb The styrene based plastic construction resulted in lower cost greater durability and a distinct sound compared to other free reed aerophones with metal reeds 2 3 4 5 6 Magnus Chord Organ Model 300Magnus Chord Organ Model 670Magnus Chord Organ Model 890Magnus Chord Organ Chord Pad Model 890Magnus Chord Organ Model 890 manufacturer stampMagnus Chord Organ Model 890 inside blower detailIn 1958 Magnus joined with television salesman Eugene Tracey and their company went on to sell millions of inexpensive electric chord organs and song books 7 8 until the late 1970s under the name Magnus Organ Corporation Early Magnus Chord Organs were either laptop or tabletop models with some of the later models having integrated legs and a lighted music stand 9 At its peak Magnus employed over 1 800 workers in Linden New Jersey including a mother s shift during school hours and a work release program for non violent inmates of the nearby Rahway State Prison citation needed After Magnus and Tracey retired the publishers of World Book Encyclopedia ultimately acquired the Magnus sheet music catalog and ceased production of Magnus instruments citation needed Magnus harmonica models editThis section is empty You can help by adding to it November 2015 Magnus organ models edit300 Tabletop Model Two Octave Six Major chord Brown or Cream Plastic Case c 1960s 302 Tabletop Model Two Octave Six Major chord Brown Plastic Case with faux wood 303 Free Standing Model Three Octave Six Major chord Six Minor chord Brown Plastic Case c 1970s 306 Free Standing Model Three Octave Six Major chord Six Minor chord Brown Plastic Case 350 Tabletop Model Two Octave Six Major chord Brown Plastic Case 360 Tabletop Model Two Octave Six Major chord Cream Plastic Case c 1970s 380 Tabletop Model Two Octave Six Major chord Cream Plastic Case with faux wood c 1960s 391 Tabletop Model Three Octave Six Major chord Six Minor chord Brown Plastic Case c 1970s 400 Tabletop Model Three Octave Six Major chord Six Minor chord Brown Plastic Case c 1970s 468 Tabletop Model Three Octave Six Major chord Six Minor chord Cream Plastic Case c 1970s 481 Tabletop Model Three Octave Six Major chord Six Minor chord Brown Plastic Case c 1970s 500 Tabletop Model Three Octave Six Major chord Six Minor chord Real Wood Case 535 Free Standing Model Three Octave Six Major chord Six Minor chord Real Wood Case c 1968 69 545 Free Standing Model Three Octave Six Major chord Six Minor chord Real Wood Case 549 Free Standing Model Three Octave Six Major chord Six Minor chord Six Bass Notes c 1960s 655 Tabletop Model Three Octave Six Major chord Six Minor chord Faux Wood Case 657 Tabletop Model Three Octave Six Major chord Six Minor chord Brown Plastic Case with faux wood c 1970s 660 Free Standing Model Three Octave Six Major chord Six Minor chord Six Seventh chord Brown Plastic Case 665 Tabletop Model Three Octave Six Major chord Six Minor chord Brown Plastic Case with faux wood c 1970s 668 Tabletop Model Three Octave Six Major chord Six Minor chord Brown Plastic Case 670 Free Standing Model Three Octave Six Major chord Six Minor chord Brown Plastic Case c 1970s 700 Tabletop Model Three Octave Eight Major chord Eight Minor chord Faux Wood Case 890 Free Standing Model Three Octave Eight Major chord Eight Minor chord Eight Bass Notes Wood Case c 1960s 1510 Laptop Model Two Octave No Chord buttons Brown Bakelite Case c 1950s 8100 Tabletop Model Three Octave Six Major chord Six Minor chord Brown Plastic Case c 1960s Disney Edition Same as Model 360 but has Orange Plastic Case c late 1970s nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Magnus Harmonica Corporation Notes edit Social Security Death Master File Retrieved April 21 2017 Social Security number was issued to FINN MAGNUS who was born 14 August 1905 and Death Master File says died August 1976 Missin Pat Finn Magnus Man of Plastic American Harmonica News Retrieved November 9 2015 Missin Pat Magnus Plastic Harmonicas Retrieved November 9 2015 Fetridge Robert H September 17 1950 Along the Highways and Byways of Finance PDF The New York Times Retrieved June 15 2018 Magnus Finn How I Made a Million Stag Hunter Mark 1960 The Finn Magnus Story Odin Press ASIN B0007E31M8 Freas Ralph May 11 1959 Play by Numbers Organ Hottest Musical Merchandise Billboard Retrieved November 10 2015 Ash Agnes July 30 1961 Organ Business a Super Market The Miami News Retrieved November 9 2015 Magnus Organ Homepage North Carolina DB Electronics 2012 Archived from the original on November 3 2012 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Magnus Harmonica Corporation amp oldid 1152830159, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
