Private company
Magnus Harmonica Corporation
Manufacturer of harmonicas and reed organs
The Magnus Harmonica Corporation (originally the International Plastic Harmonica Corporation) was founded in 1944 in New Jersey by Danish immigrant Finn Magnus (1905–1976). 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.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0
Last updated Oct 21, 2026.
Overview
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The Magnus Harmonica Corporation (originally the International Plastic Harmonica Corporation) was founded in 1944 in New Jersey by Danish immigrant Finn Magnus (1905–1976). 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
Products and brands
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
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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
580: Free-Standing Model, Three Octave, Six Major chord, Six Minor chord, Faux Wood Case
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
From Wikipedia’s article on Magnus Harmonica Corporation, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3
Links
- WikipediaMagnus Harmonica Corporation
- More imagesWikimedia Commons
- WikidataQ6732106
Sources
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