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From: Winslow Yerxa <76450.32~ompuServe.COM>
Date: 20 Jul 96 17:10:52 EDT
Subject: Valves

TO: internet:harp~arply.com

Mike Curtis asks how long valves have been around. Rick Epping
would be better qualified to answer with authority on this one,
but I know Hohner has been valving octave-tuned diatonics like
the Auto-Valve and chromonicas since about the 1920's. Maybe
earlier in the case of diatonics.

For some reason, valving hasn't proved necessary on double-reeded
tremolo harps, maybe becuase each reed is in a discrete hole, but
Auto-valves and chromatics, both of which have a blow and a draw
reed mounted side by side on the same reedplate, get terribly
leaky without them.

The two-layer valves use one layer of plastic that's more pliable
to make a seal over the reedplate slot, and another as a
stiffener. I've seen leather valves on 1930's vintage 270's that
used beautifully-tooled brass stiffeners.

Winslow Yerxa
Harmonica Information Press
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