✅ SOLVED Weird Harmonica-like Reed?

[Appalachianman76]

Hey everyone! Was hunting an old pioneer church site on Friday and found a reed plate that is very similar to a harmonica reed, yet it is very different as well. I don't have a clue to what it might be. It isn't made to work the same as a harmonica reed. First, the actual slots that the reeds cover are facing the wrong direction. Second, whereas a harmonica has all the reeds riveted on one side, this plate has half the reeds riveted on the bottom and the other half riveted on the top. Third, the reeds and slots of this plate are fewer and larger than that of a harmonica. Fourth, this reed plate is much thicker and made out of lead, whereas a harmonica is very thin and made out of brass.

When I dug this reed plate it still had some of the wood casing attached. Of course, this soon disintegrated to dust. Below are pictures. Some have a harmonica reed plate in them as a comparison. I'm not musically inclined, but thought this might be easy to ID for some of you musically inclined folks. Thanks.

 

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[DCMatt]

I'll admit I've not seen a reed quite like that one. I would guess it is from a concertina or flutina or other similar 'squeeze-box' type musical instrument.


The reeds are set up in both directions so they will play when air is moving over them from either direction.


A harmonica has two reed plates facing opposite directions so you get one note when blowing through it and a different note when drawing or sucking through it.


Your 3 note reed likely produced the sound of a chord or triad when played.

 

[Fourman110]

I found one once and came to the conclusion it was probably a pitch pipe.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Yep. Rectangular pitch pipe (of this type - not exact match). If they could be isolated.

Another option might be a tin horn "trumpet" call that plated a chord as DCMatt was getting at (blown from the top instead of the side).

 

[DCMatt]

Or maybe from a broad reed melodeon:

 

[Appalachianman76]

Thanks for the replies. I consider this solved!

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

An aoogah horn from a car.three notes?