Forwarded Message:

• From: dfuller@teleport.com      To: ALL                       Orig: MBNET
 Subj: Info needed re Player Har Area: 2-rec.antiques          Date: 02/12/96
=============================================================================
•My wife's father gave her a player harmonica some years ago.  It is
like a player piano in that paper rolls with openings are used to
carry the tune.  A crank moves the coded paper past the mouthpiece in
front of the harmonica.  Can anyone give me more information about
this novelty?  I also don't know how to play it since I can't seem to
crank and get a melody.¶
Any help will be appreciated?

[ Editor's Note:   The following reply was posted to rec.antiques:

•From           swanson@ssrl01.slac.stanford.edu
Organization   SSRL, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lab
Date           12 Feb 96 15:27:38 -0800
Newsgroups     rec.antiques

•What you have is called a rollmonica. It was a childrens toy made in the
1930's or 40's. I believe that 2 different models were made, one of metal and
a later version that was some sort of plastic like bakelite. To play it, you
put the roll in and connect the end tab on the roll to the takeup spool on the
bottom blow into it as you are cranking the roll, it should play. If it does
not play then it is probably broken. There were other roll playing toys like
this like the QRS play-sax that was shaped like a saxophone and a clairola
that was shaped like a clarinet. They are not rare.