Reply To: Russian Melodicas

#9545
Alan Brinton
Participant

The label on this instrument is “Малыш”, which means “kid” or “little baby”. Of special note are the use of wood in its construction and the double reeds, i.e. two reeds to a plate. It seems likely that these Russian models (pre-1991, I’m guessing from the 1970s) were produced by one or more accordion manufacturers. Hohners and Japanese keyboard harmonicas trace their roots mainly to the harmonica. It is interesting to ask what significant differences in the instruments appear as a result of having been designed by accordion makers as opposed to harmonica makers. It would be interesting to know who designed an manufactured these Russian models.

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