The Hohner Marine Band can trace its origins right back to the end of the 19th century. The registration of the Marine Band patent in 1896 laid the foundations for an unparalleled success story. The original design of the Hohner Marine Band is still central to the construction of this hugely popular instrument today. The arched covers with side vents give the Hohner Marine Band an unmistakeable sound which is inseparably bound up with blues music and has ensured its enormous popularity with both professional musicians and amateur players alike. The Hohner Marine Band, named after the 19th century military marine band headed up by John Philip Sousa, retains many of the features found in the very first instruments that Hohner produced under the Marine Band brandname. Some of these features include the pearwood comb and brass reed plates that combine to produce a uniquely authentic sound which has defined the role of the harmonica in the blues tradition and made it the benchmark from which all others are judged. The Hohner Marine Band represents the archetypal blues harmonica with traditional Hohner Richter tuning. Richter harmonicas are single note instruments and can be recognized by their undivided channel openings which allow the airflow to pass over both blow and draw reeds simultaneously. This permits the techniques such as bending, enabling the player to lower the pitch of certain notes and create the typical bluesy wailing sound , and overblowing, which produces the missing chromatic notes. Vintage M Hohner Marine Band Harmonica (Key of B) Made in Germany Model A440 - M1896126 Key of B 10-hole diatonic, standard tuning, 20 reeds Model number: A440 Weight: 56 grams Dimensions: 100 x 27 x 20 mm Condition: Never used - Excellent to mint condition