[Harp-L] RE: Reed Measurements (Request For Information)

[Robert Coble <robertpcoble@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Rick,

I am amazed by my own ignorance of the history of harmonicas. I don't play tremeloes, so maybe that's why
I had never heard of the William Thie harmonicas. I did find a patent rejection dated June 14, 1870 for Thie.
The patent application and appeal was for "Improvement in Harmonicons." The justification for rejection of
the patent and appeal was that the same idea was utilized in the organ with the "voix celeste" stop.

Do you have any additional references or information regarding the initial size of wire that was used or the 
design (patents?) of the rolling machines?


I never considered rolling out a reed blank from brass wire simply because I had not known the history. I also

would like to try materials other than brass (phosphor bronze, stainless steel), which makes a punch-and-die

set seem more attractive. But I certainly do appreciate the additional possibilities for using brass wire!


Thank you!
Crazy Bob


Rick Epping wrote:

As an alternative to stamping out reeds, you might consider rolling, a method used by 19th Century manufacturers prior to the introduction of stamping.  Brass wire was rolled down to the thickness and width of the rivet pad, then the sides of the reed tongue were cut to the desired width, I would guess by using a nibbler. One advantage to this method is that the reed is subjected to less stress and possible strain than it is through stamping.   The cost of tooling up for rolling would also likely be far less than that for stamping.  I have studied and played harmonicas with these reeds, particularly by the Viennese maker Thie, and found them to be equal or superior to most modern instruments.

Rick