[Harp-L] Bahnson Overblow: Maintenance?

[Björn Giesler <bjoern@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi all,

OK, I've decided to keep and play my Bahnson. However, it has  
obviously spent considerable time lying around at the dealer, so the  
reedplates are very oxidized in front. I'd like to swap them with new  
ones (and file them off at the front to reduce the protruding  
reedplate problem). About that, I have a few questions; maybe there  
is someone on the list who can answer them. I'd be very happy about  
that -- I want to play the thing, but I also want to keep it in  
optimal state and make sure I can maintain it.

Just opened the thing up and found that the reedplates and slider are  
fixed with hex screws, and they're obviously inch screws of two  
different sizes. Since we Germans use metric (which, as a friend from  
the US once told me, is "the tool of the devil" :-) ), I have to buy  
tools. Does anyone know the thread and head size of these screws?

Also, are there still replacement reed plates for the thing, or do I  
have to convert Golden Melody plates? If the latter, are the drill  
holes of newer GM plates in the correct positions?

Any help is very much appreciated!

Regards,
Björn