[Harp-L] re: reed materials

[Jonathan Ross <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Vern writes:

"The same material properties that make good springs make good reeds.

How many plastic springs do you see?"


Not many, but then how often do you see twenty springs mounted to a  
plate free to move on one end?

There may be modern plastics which have excellent spring properties  
and can also be molded, which would make for easy manufacturing-- 
comb, reeds and reedplates all in one (maybe even the covers).   
Magnus proved pretty well that harmonicas can be made out of  
injection molded plastics, and while they weren't great, they were  
usable instruments.  Since both plastic technology and molding  
technology have improved by leaps and bounds since then, I think it's  
an area worth looking into from a manufacturing perspective.




 ()()    JR "Bulldogge" Ross
()  ()
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