Super Cool Prewar Bandmaster
This page is dedicated to the restoration project of a
super-cool Seydel Bandmaster circa 1898 to 1920s.
Before World War II, Seydel was a vibrant company and it's
flagship harp, the Bandmaster, would likely have been as
big a legend and cultural phenom as the Marine Band.
However, production of these and many cool Seydel prewar
lines were discontinued after World War II, because Seydel
had the misfortune of being in the Soviet zone of Divided
Germany, which later became East Germany. Seydel was
stripped of its private owners and ran by the Communist
Party, as all businesses were in the time and place. The
Communist overlords cared little for quality and let me tell
you, this was quality... and it was cast by the wayside in
favor of harps they ACTUALLY SOLD BY THE POUND.
Since the company was returned to private ownership,
Seydel has taken pride in its products and is returning to
its glory days of quality and innovation.
Check back often. There will be a LOT more to come as this
project progresses.
This photo was taken of my harp while it was still in its
original home, Bulgaria.
super-cool Seydel Bandmaster circa 1898 to 1920s.
Before World War II, Seydel was a vibrant company and it's
flagship harp, the Bandmaster, would likely have been as
big a legend and cultural phenom as the Marine Band.
However, production of these and many cool Seydel prewar
lines were discontinued after World War II, because Seydel
had the misfortune of being in the Soviet zone of Divided
Germany, which later became East Germany. Seydel was
stripped of its private owners and ran by the Communist
Party, as all businesses were in the time and place. The
Communist overlords cared little for quality and let me tell
you, this was quality... and it was cast by the wayside in
favor of harps they ACTUALLY SOLD BY THE POUND.
Since the company was returned to private ownership,
Seydel has taken pride in its products and is returning to
its glory days of quality and innovation.
Check back often. There will be a LOT more to come as this
project progresses.
This photo was taken of my harp while it was still in its
original home, Bulgaria.
In its heyday, the Marine Band was a wonderful instrument. If
you read Jacob Hohner's patent, you can see what he was
thinking when he designed it in the 1890s. He created holes in
the sides of the coverplates. In his patent, Hohner says this
allows the coverplates to vibrate more, giving it a unique
sound.
It worked, but not for the reasons Hohner thought, it wasn't the
vibration, but the location of the holes. Cover the holes on the
coverplate sides of a Marine Band and you can hear the
change in tone. It sounds like one of the old, Old Standbys.
At the same time Jacob Hohner worked on the Marine Band
design, Richard Seydel Sr. was creating the Bandmaster. What
Hohner stumbled on by mistake, apparently RIchard Seydel Sr.
discovered it independently, but understood what was
happening and why it did what it did. Not only did he use those
holes in the side to change the tone, he created little
megaphones in the coverplates not only use that tone the
Marine Band was using, but to amplify it as well.
you read Jacob Hohner's patent, you can see what he was
thinking when he designed it in the 1890s. He created holes in
the sides of the coverplates. In his patent, Hohner says this
allows the coverplates to vibrate more, giving it a unique
sound.
It worked, but not for the reasons Hohner thought, it wasn't the
vibration, but the location of the holes. Cover the holes on the
coverplate sides of a Marine Band and you can hear the
change in tone. It sounds like one of the old, Old Standbys.
At the same time Jacob Hohner worked on the Marine Band
design, Richard Seydel Sr. was creating the Bandmaster. What
Hohner stumbled on by mistake, apparently RIchard Seydel Sr.
discovered it independently, but understood what was
happening and why it did what it did. Not only did he use those
holes in the side to change the tone, he created little
megaphones in the coverplates not only use that tone the
Marine Band was using, but to amplify it as well.
| Video 1: Just got it and cleaned it |
| Video 2: disassembly |
| Behold! The Prewar Bandmaster... |
| Video 3: Comb seal |
Elk River
Harmonicas
Dave Payne Sr., owner
Harmonicas
Dave Payne Sr., owner
Welcome to
The complete Seydel line and home of the Elk River Special
Grandpa Cecil Payne And Dave Payne Sr.
Showing it off with Jason Ricci as one of the
awesomest harmonicas of all time.
awesomest harmonicas of all time.
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