HARMONY H303(A)
- wattage unknown, 1-6 in. speaker, guitar combo, three tube chassis, single channel, rear control panel, two or three inputs, single volume knob, blue/gray simulated leather, gray grille, mfg. late 1950s-mid-1960s.
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The Harmony Company of Chicago, IL was one of the largest American musical instrument manufacturer. Harmony has the historical distinction of being the largest "jobber" house in the nation, producing stringed instruments for a number of different wholesalers. Individual dealers or distributors could get stringed instruments with their own brand name on them if they ordered more than 100 pieces. At one time, Harmony was producing the largest percentage of stringed instruments in the U.S. market.
The company was founded by Wilhelm J.F. Shultz in 1892. Business expanded exponentially and by 1915 the company already had a 125 person workforce and $250,000 in annual sales. In 1916, Sears, Roebuck & Company purchased Harmony and in 1925 they produced 250,000 units. Most of these guitars were sold through Sears in their catalog (about 35%-40% in 1930). In 1930, they sold 500,000 units, and only sold to wholesalers. Harmony became sort of a steamroller, bought trademarks and kept selling guitars and other equipment faster than they could make them.
In the 1940s, Harmony introduced guitar amplifiers to complement the increasingly popular electric guitar. Through the 1950s and 1960s Harmony continued to sell guitars, amplifiers, and other instruments at a rapid pace. Unlike many companies that went bankrupt by the end of the 1960s, Harmony managed to survive and thrive in the guitar industry. However, the 1970s finally took its toll on the large company and they closed in 1976.
In the late 1970s, the Harmony trademark was sold and licensed for use on a line of Asian-built guitars. From the late 1970s through the 1990s, Harmony was mainly used on cheap entry-level guitars that were often sold through mass merchandisers. The trademark and licensing agreements were also bought and sold several times throughout this period. In 2000, MBT International began to distribute Harmony guitars with a line of acoustic and electric instruments, as well as unbranded amplifiers, mainly based on popular American designs; however, by 2001, this licensing agreement was dissolved.
Current Harmony president Charlie Subecz bought the Harmony trademark in the mid-1990s, and by the mid-2000s, he decided to reintroduce the Harmony guitar line. Instead of using Harmony as simply a budget brand of copied models, Subecz went to work on offering vintage Harmony guitars that were reminiscent of the 1950s and 1960s. Unfortunately, no blueprints or records existed on Harmony's vintage guitars, so Subecz and his crew had to obtain physical examples of these guitars. Examples were then sent to Korea where they were precisely duplicated and readied for production. Harmony is currently offering a line of small guitar and bass amps with tweed coverings. For more information, visit Harmony's website or contact them directly.
The company was founded by Wilhelm J.F. Shultz in 1892. Business expanded exponentially and by 1915 the company already had a 125 person workforce and $250,000 in annual sales. In 1916, Sears, Roebuck & Company purchased Harmony and in 1925 they produced 250,000 units. Most of these guitars were sold through Sears in their catalog (about 35%-40% in 1930). In 1930, they sold 500,000 units, and only sold to wholesalers. Harmony became sort of a steamroller, bought trademarks and kept selling guitars and other equipment faster than they could make them.
In the 1940s, Harmony introduced guitar amplifiers to complement the increasingly popular electric guitar. Through the 1950s and 1960s Harmony continued to sell guitars, amplifiers, and other instruments at a rapid pace. Unlike many companies that went bankrupt by the end of the 1960s, Harmony managed to survive and thrive in the guitar industry. However, the 1970s finally took its toll on the large company and they closed in 1976.
In the late 1970s, the Harmony trademark was sold and licensed for use on a line of Asian-built guitars. From the late 1970s through the 1990s, Harmony was mainly used on cheap entry-level guitars that were often sold through mass merchandisers. The trademark and licensing agreements were also bought and sold several times throughout this period. In 2000, MBT International began to distribute Harmony guitars with a line of acoustic and electric instruments, as well as unbranded amplifiers, mainly based on popular American designs; however, by 2001, this licensing agreement was dissolved.
Current Harmony president Charlie Subecz bought the Harmony trademark in the mid-1990s, and by the mid-2000s, he decided to reintroduce the Harmony guitar line. Instead of using Harmony as simply a budget brand of copied models, Subecz went to work on offering vintage Harmony guitars that were reminiscent of the 1950s and 1960s. Unfortunately, no blueprints or records existed on Harmony's vintage guitars, so Subecz and his crew had to obtain physical examples of these guitars. Examples were then sent to Korea where they were precisely duplicated and readied for production. Harmony is currently offering a line of small guitar and bass amps with tweed coverings. For more information, visit Harmony's website or contact them directly.
Amplifiers currently produced in China since 2007. Previously produced in Chicago, IL between the late 1940s and the mid-1970s and in various Asian locations during the 1980s and early 2000s. Currently distributed by The Original Harmony Guitar Company, Inc. in Palatine, IL. Previously distributed by Sears & Roebuck between the late 1940s and the mid-1970s, JC Penney and possibly other distributors in the 1980s, and by MBT International during the early 2000s.
HARMONY Guitar Amplifiers Models
HARMONY MODEL 195
- wattage unknown, speaker size unknown, four tube chassis, single channel, rear control panel, two inputs, two-tone brown imitation leather covering, metal decorative grille, mfg. late 1940s.
HARMONY H500
- wattage unknown, 1-8 in. speaker, guitar combo, solid-state chassis, single channel, top chrome control panel, three inputs, two knobs (v, tone), black ostrich grained simulated leather covering, gray grille with red rally stripes, 15.75...
HARMONY H400(A)
- wattage unknown, 1-8 in. Jensen speaker, guitar combo, three tube chassis, single channel, top mounted control panel, three inputs, one volume control or one volume and one tone knob, black ostrich grained leather covering, brown grille,...
HARMONY H304(A)
- wattage unknown, 1-10 in. Jensen speaker, guitar combo, four tube chassis, single channel, rear/top control panel, two inputs, two knobs (v, tone), blue/gray simulated leather, gray grille, 18 in. wide, 15 in. tall, 9.5 in. deep, mfg. lat...
HARMONY H189 STUDENT
- wattage unknown, 1-6 in. or 1-8 in. speaker, guitar combo, three tube chassis, single channel, rear control panel, two inputs, single volume knob, black covering, octagon brown grille, mfg. mid-1950s.
HARMONY H410(A)
- ~8W, 1-8 in. Jensen speaker, guitar combo, four tube chassis, single channel, tremolo, top mounted control panel, three inputs, four knobs (v, tone, s, i), black ostrich grained leather covering, brown grille, 18.75 in. wide, 16 in. tall,...
HARMONY H510
- 5W, 1-10 in. Jensen speaker, guitar combo, solid-state chassis, single channel, tremolo, top chrome control panel, three inputs, four knobs (v, tone, s, i), one-button footswitch, black ostrich grained simulated leather covering, gray gri...
HARMONY H305(A)
- wattage unknown, 1-12 in. Jensen speaker, guitar combo, five tube chassis, two channels, rear/top control panel, three inputs (two regular, one high gain), three knobs (v1, v2, tone), blue/gray simulated leather, gray grille, mfg. late 19...
HARMONY H191
- wattage unknown, 1-6 in. or 1-8 in. speaker, guitar combo, three tube chassis, single channel, rear control panel, two inputs, single volume knob, red ribbed covering on front and top, ivory covering on sides, square brown grille with rou...
HARMONY H512
- 5W, 1-10 in. Jensen speaker, guitar combo, solid-state chassis, single channel, reverb, tremolo, top chrome control panel, three inputs, five knobs (v, tone, s, i, r), two one-button footswitches, black ostrich grained simulated leather c...
HARMONY H415
- wattage unknown, 2-12 in. Jensen special design speakers, guitar combo, six tube chassis, two channels, tremolo, top mounted control panel, four inputs, six knobs (v1, v2, tone 1, tone 2, s, i), one button footswitch, black ostrich graine...
HARMONY H515
- 18W, 2-12 in. Jensen speakers, guitar combo, solid-state chassis, two channels, tremolo, top chrome control panel, four inputs, six knobs (v1, tone 1, v2, tone 2, s, i,), one-button footswitch, black ostrich grained simulated leather cove...
HARMONY H193
- wattage unknown, 1-6 in. speaker, guitar combo, three tube chassis, single channel, rear control panel, two inputs, one volume control, brown simulated leather covering with Harmony logo in upper right corner above grille, large rectangle...
HARMONY H306(A)
- wattage unknown, 1-12 in. Jensen speaker, guitar combo, six tube chassis, two channels, vibrato (later models refer to it as tremolo), rear/top control panel, four inputs (three regular, one mic), six knobs (v1, v2, tone 1, tone 2, s, i),...
HARMONY H420
- 35W, 1-15 in. Jensen Special Design speaker, guitar, accordion or voice combo, four tube chassis with four diode rectifiers, two channels, tremolo, top mounted control panel, three inputs, three knobs (v, t, b), black ostrich grained leat...
HARMONY H525
- 35W, 1-15 in. Jensen speaker, bass combo, hybrid chassis with four tubes and four silicon rectifiers, two channels, tremolo, front chrome control panel, three inputs, three knobs (v, t, b), black ostrich grained simulated leather covering...
HARMONY H194
- wattage unknown, 1-8 in. speaker, guitar combo, four tube chassis, single channel, rear control panel, two inputs, two knobs (v, tone), brown pig grain covering with Harmony logo in upper right corner above grille, large rectangle brown g...
HARMONY H430
- wattage unknown, 2-10 in. Jensen special design speakers, guitar combo, eight tube chassis, two channels, reverb, tremolo, top mounted control panel, four inputs, seven knobs (v1, v2, tone 1, tone 2, s, i, r), two one-button footswitches,...
HARMONY H440
- 70W, 2-12 in. Jensen special design speakers, guitar combo, 12 tube chassis, two channels, reverb, tremolo, top mounted control panel, four inputs, seven knobs (v1, v2, tone 1, tone 2, s, i, r), two one-button footswitches, black ostrich...
HARMONY H530
- 35W, 1-15 in. Jensen speaker, bass combo, solid-state chassis, two channels, tremolo, top chrome control panel, three inputs, three knobs (v, t, b), black ostrich grained simulated leather covering, gray grille with red rally stripes, 19....
HARMONY H200
- wattage unknown, 1-12 in. speaker, guitar combo, six-tube chassis, two channels, rear control panel, three inputs, three knobs (v1, v2, tone), two-tone light brown/dark brown covering, square two-tone red/light tan grille cloth with Harmo...
HARMONY H535
- 35W, 2-12 in. Jensen speakers, guitar piggyback unit, hybrid chassis with seven tubes and four silicon rectifiers, two channels, reverb, tremolo, front chrome control panel, four inputs, nine knobs (Ch.1: v, t, b, Ch.2: v, t, b, s, i, r),...
HARMONY H204
- wattage unknown, 1-12 in. speaker, guitar combo, five tube chassis, two channels, rear control panel, three inputs, three knobs (v1, v2, tone), brown pig grain covering with Harmony logo in upper right corner above grille, large rectangle...
HARMONY H540
- speaker cabinet only with 4-10 in. Jensen speakers, matches as a secondary or remote speaker for the H515, H530, H545, and H550, black ostrich grained simulated leather, gray grille with red rally stripes, 16.625 in. wide, 48 in. tall, 11...
HARMONY H205
- wattage unknown, 1-12 in. speaker, guitar combo, five tube chassis, two channels, rear control panel, three inputs, three knobs (v1, v2, tone), tweed covering with blue saddlehide ends, rectangle brown grille with Harmony logo and notes i...
HARMONY H545
- 25W, 2-12 in. Jensen speakers, guitar piggyback unit, solid-state chassis, two channels, reverb, tremolo, top chrome control panel, four inputs, nine knobs (Ch.1: v, t, b, Ch.2: v, t, b, s, i, r), two one-button footswitches, black ostric...
HARMONY H210
- wattage unknown, 1-12 in. speaker, guitar combo, six tube chassis, two channels, tremolo, rear control panel, four inputs, six knobs (v1, tone 1, v2, tone 2, s, i), footswitch, brown pig grain covering with Harmony logo in upper right cor...
HARMONY H550
- 50W, 2-12 in. Jensen speakers, guitar piggyback unit, solid-state chassis, two channels, reverb, tremolo, front chrome control panel, four inputs, nine knobs (Ch.1: v, t, b, Ch.2: v, t, b, s, i, r), two one-button footswitches, black ostr...
HARMONY H570
- 70W, 2-12 in. Jensen speakers, guitar piggyback unit, solid-state chassis, two channels, reverb, tremolo, front chrome control panel, four inputs, nine knobs (Ch.1: v, t, b, Ch.2: v, t, b, s, i, r), two one-button footswitches, black ostr...