My brother had been gifted it a long time ago, and I recently picked it up to see if I could play something cool.
There's a problem, however: most instructions online are type-specific, but I have no idea what type this one could be. It has absolutely no engraved information and is quite different — having 16 holes and a single reed plate, with 16 singular reeds that alternate up and down.
If there's no definite answer, what are some tips to overcome this type barrier and learn to play the harmonica?
It's missing the cover plates, so I doubt it's really playable.
What kind of music would you like to play? If you want something that can do bends, you should look into the Hohner Blues Band harmonica: they run about $10 in the States and are a good option for a beginner.
Note that harmonicas are diatonic*, and you'll need them in multiple keys if you want to play with others. You can buy them in sets or mix different ones to see what you like.
It's a fun instrument to just noodle around on and pick out tunes. Get familiar with the feel of it, then look for videos or books to go deeper.
*There are actually different scales that you can play on a standard diatonic harmonica if you play cross harp. This is what you'll need to look at if you want to play the blues.
Oh, actually, I had taken the cover plates off to see and show its interior. It is playable, but it's hard to figure the tuning — at least for me and my musician friend.
About the music, anything goes. It's for fun anyways, and thus I feel like trying to use this one I already own.
Thanks for the insights.