In a message dated 97-12-04 11:15:50 EST, you write:
 
<< I, also, have been trying to find out more about 'Jew's Harps'. They are
 also called 'Juice Harps', which I believe was the original or "proper"
 terminology, with 'Jew's harps' being more of a slang term. I don't know
 how long they have been around, but they are pretty common in Civil
 War campsites.  White Star Consulting recently recovered eight of the
 brass note scales, from Jew's Harps,  in a late 1862 Union camp in
 Newtonia, MO.  We did not recover any of the iron frames or bodies,
 whatever they are called, and all of the brass scales are different
 lengths (3 to 8 cm).  I am trying to finish the artifact write-up, and would
 like to know more about them myself. I have not been able to find any
 photos or references for them except in Civil War artifact books.
  >>
 
 
Are you guys talking about harmonicas or jews harps? The former has a single
plate with a number of rectangular holes with individual reeds, but the latter
has a harp or lyre shaped frame with a single vibrating reed, right?  By the
way, for etymology check the OED. Harmonicas were invented in the 1820's, but
jews harps have considerable antiquity.
 
Carl Steen