The Magnus Harmonica Corporation (originally the International Plastic Harmonica Corporation) was founded in 1944 in New Jersey by Danish immigrant Finn Magnus (1905–1976). [1] 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] [3] [4] [5] [6]
In 1958, Magnus joined with television salesman Eugene Tracey, and their company went on to sell millions of inexpensive electric chord organs and song books [7] [8] until the late 1970s under the name Magnus Organ Corporation. Early Magnus Chord Organs were either laptop or tabletop models, with some of the later models having integrated legs and a lighted music stand. [9] At its peak, Magnus employed over 1,800 workers in Linden, New Jersey, including a " mother's shift" during school hours and a " work release" program for non-violent inmates of the nearby Rahway State Prison.[ citation needed]
After Magnus and Tracey retired, the publishers of World Book Encyclopedia ultimately acquired the Magnus sheet music catalog and ceased production of Magnus instruments.[ citation needed]
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Social Security number ... was issued to FINN MAGNUS, who was born 14 August 1905 and, Death Master File says, died August 1976.
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cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
link)
The Magnus Harmonica Corporation (originally the International Plastic Harmonica Corporation) was founded in 1944 in New Jersey by Danish immigrant Finn Magnus (1905–1976). [1] 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] [3] [4] [5] [6]
In 1958, Magnus joined with television salesman Eugene Tracey, and their company went on to sell millions of inexpensive electric chord organs and song books [7] [8] until the late 1970s under the name Magnus Organ Corporation. Early Magnus Chord Organs were either laptop or tabletop models, with some of the later models having integrated legs and a lighted music stand. [9] At its peak, Magnus employed over 1,800 workers in Linden, New Jersey, including a " mother's shift" during school hours and a " work release" program for non-violent inmates of the nearby Rahway State Prison.[ citation needed]
After Magnus and Tracey retired, the publishers of World Book Encyclopedia ultimately acquired the Magnus sheet music catalog and ceased production of Magnus instruments.[ citation needed]
![]() | This section is empty. You can help by
adding to it. (November 2015) |
Social Security number ... was issued to FINN MAGNUS, who was born 14 August 1905 and, Death Master File says, died August 1976.
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
link)