August 06, 2004

#179 :: Tin Harmonica

I chose this today not for its purpose but for its look. It's not so elegant an instrument as even this - its reeds are ... reedy ... and its tone not quite on pitch. But its case (?) reminds me of every little lithographed, bent-tin toy I've ever held, from frog clickers and party ratchets to Crazy Trains and vintage Japanese robots glimpsed through locked glass. Hard, cartoonish strokes of black limn the little animal race. The bear's popping plewds. But I think the giraffe will win.

Posted by mack reed at August 6, 2004 11:53 PM | TrackBack
Comments

Do you play harmonica? How did you learn? I've been thinking of taking up an instrument and am definitely interested in the harmonica, not least because it's a shiny metal HLO that fits in a pocket.

This is a gorgeous little toy, I love the colors.

Posted by: dcb at August 8, 2004 07:21 PM

I play harmonic about as well as I play concert harp, which is to say I can make a sound with it if I hit it hard enough. Harmonica's pretty easy to learn, from what I understand, and difficult to master. This one's a birthday party favor from one of the kids.

Posted by: mack at August 9, 2004 11:45 AM