Re: Subject: [Harp-L] pre-existing harmonica terminology ??

[Jonathan Ross <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> This indicates that neither the "Wieiner" or Knottlinger" system  
> has draw-only holes.

No, the Wiener system has draw-only holes.  And blow-only holes.  The  
key word in the part you quoted from Pat's site is "however"--this  
shows the difference between the Knittlinger which has two reeds  
(blow/draw) per chamber and the Wiener which has one reed per  
chamber.  This text in the Wiener section is significant:

"Each hole leads to a chamber that contains a single reed, either  
blow or draw. "

Take a look at the picture on the website of the Wiener and the  
Knittlinger harmonicas.  In the Knittlinger picture you can clearly  
see that there is a blow reed offset to one side of the hole, with  
the corresponding draw reed (not visible) taking up the other half of  
the hole.

Now look at the Wiener picture.  It is not shown in the upper reed- 
plate because of the angle of the photo, but on the lower reed-plate  
you can clearly see that each blow reed is housed in it's own hole/ 
chamber, whereas the draw reeds (not visible) are housed in a  
discrete chamber next to these.  A similar pattern can be seen on the  
lower reed-plate of the Leo Shi tremolo single in the picture above  
that.

> I originally questioned the need for separate terms for blow-holes  
> and draw-holes because I didn't think that draw-only holes  
> existed.  I should have known better than to state that something  
> doesn't exist and in any case my opinion isn't important.

It's not that your opinion isn't important, just that you didn't  
know.  That said, I see no need to label these holes individually.   
Such minute detailing doesn't really add to the clarity of the  
description, nor is it indicative of usage.  The draw-only and blow- 
only mouthpiece holes on any of the instruments which have them  
behave in function the same--you select the hole needed to play and  
then play, either blow or draw.  I see no need to distinguish between  
the two--it would seem to be more confusing than enlightening.



JR Ross