The Marine Band 1896 is the origin of the blues harmonica. This iconic instrument embodies the blues like no other and is the benchmark for diatonic harmonicas - that's why it's still built today almost exactly as it was when it was patented in 1896. Although it was originally intended for European folk music, the sound of the Marine Band 1896 quickly became influential in 20th century American blues. Nearly all the blues greats of the era played it, making it the voice of broken hearts and dancing nights, of endless prairies and stuffy nightclubs. Like no other harmonica, the 1896 Marine Band manages to set emotions to music and spark creativity. Whoever discovers this piece of living musical history does not simply play the blues. He feels the blues.