In a message dated 97-12-04 18:06:51 EST, you write:
<<
At Newtonia we recovered four types of 'Personal Musical
Instruments':
1) Brass harmonica scales; complete ones measure about 1" by 4",
with about ten little brass reeds. We found one complete and a dozen or
more broken pieces.
2) White metal harmonica scales; a few broken pieces, slightly smaller
than the brass type, much thinner and the metal (some zinc/pewter type
alloy?) is more corroded, with the same thin reeds as the brass type.
3) Heavy lead 2-slot scales, real heavy, about 1 1/4" high by 1" long or
wide by about 1/8" thick. These are complete (not broken) 2-slot scales
and have the same thin reeds. I've never seen these before. I suppose
they are for a real short harmonica????
4) Jew's Harp scales, found eight, measuring 1 1/4" to 3" long by
about 3/8" wide (longer ones are a little wider), with a thin reed almost
full length of the piece. These are complete in themselves, but of course
they would have been inserted in the iron or steel harp frame. This is
what is called the 'steel tongue' in the Websters New Universal
Dictionary. With so many sizes, I wonder if they could be easily taken
out and interchanged.
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Jim-- We find your type 1 and 2 harmonica reed plates in South Carolina a good
bit--but mostly, it seems, in Civil War and later contexts. Does anyone have
earlier examples? I have heard it said that the white metal ones are earlier,
but I don't know if that is based on reliable evidence--I would bet that one
type was cheaper than the other, or manufactured by a different company.
I did some excavations at Somerset Place plantation (NC) a few years ago,
and found a whole pile of harmonicas, which spurred my interest in the
subject. I don't have that report at hand, but it seems I recall that
harmonicas, accordions, and pump organs were all invented by the same guy
between about 1820 and 1840. The Hohner company was established in the 1840's
I believe, and spread harmonicas and co. around the globe.
These instruments all work on the same principle--ie, vibrating metal reeds on
a fixed plate to produce notes. Thus I wonder if your type 3 might be an
accordion or organ part?
Now I have a new one. In a mixed 18th-19th-20th century context at Fort
Johnson, Charleston SC, we found an almost square (about 45x40mm), thick
(7-8mm) reed plate that had two rows of three notes (the rectangular slots).
The reeds were on opposite sides--thus blowing produces one sound, and
inhaling produces another. In modern harmonicas this is produced by using two
reed plates seperated by a wooden block. Has anyone else seen these? Accordion
or organ perhaps?
One final note, and a general query for anyone interested in ethnomusicology.
Harmonicas (and accordions and portable pump organs) were a great innovation,
and contributed greatly to bringing music to the masses. They were and are
cheap, portable, and easy to play. Even I can play "Oh Susannah" and "Heart of
Gold."
Nowadays certain types of music are characteristically (musicians please feel
free to correct me) played in a particular key--that is, Country and folk
music with anglo roots are played in the key of G, blues and gospel with
African American roots are often played in the key of E, and so on.
Obviously the rectangular slots on the reed plates make different notes
because of their size (length and width). If we measure the individual notes
and determine the key of the instrument we can extrapolate what sorts of music
were being played, presumably.
Question 1: For archaeologists--Has anyone approached this question through
systematically measuring the slots to determine the key of the instruments?
Question 2: For ethnomusicologists--What kinds of music were being played by
different groups at different times? For instance, given the increased
distribution of popular sheet music in the 19th century would people
throughout the nation play the same songs, all in the key of C? Or is it
likely that broad patterns of harmonica key preferences will emerge?
This is a good thesis topic for someone!
Any ideas?
Carl Steen
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