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From: Bobbie Giordano
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 20:18:27 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: Hohner Reedplate Valves

My thanks as usual to Rick for his prompt consideration and answers to our
concerns...

On Mon, 9 Feb 1998, Rick Epping wrote:

> Thank you for your suggestions, Bobbie.
>
> The Toot's models, I believe, have always had chrome plated reedplates.

I spoke with Richard Farrell last evening and he basically agreed that they
have not been changed that he knows of, but added that there are umpteen
types of metal coatings available today, and it's rare for any one substance
to be employed alone in such situations. He feels chrome is very likely one
of the elements in the coating, but may not necessarily be all of which the
coating consists, and that proportions may be changed over time which cause
differences in other areas, as perhaps adhesion of glues and valves. He of
course sells an adhesive which he claims will work with valves very nicely,
as well he said he carries the glue that Hohner uses in their factory if you
like that. I told him that has been my problem of late... even the Hohner
glue has not been holding well. He agrees Pliobond is a good one to use, as
Blackie and others suggest.

Just for further info, Rick, and interested others, I must say the coating
appears the same on older sets of plates we used and the most recent. BUT,
there have been at least two changes made in these Toots' plates since we
first bought some. The end pairs of holes used to be nicely cratered, then
I had one interim set with simple holes, and now they are coming with those
holes recessed and the coating applied afterwards. When they were cratered,
they were coated before the holes were done. With the earlier plates, the
valves stuck very well. It is only recently there seems to be a problem.
So, I can only speculate that perhaps some changes in the coating mixture
have been made when changes in the drilling of the plates has been made, or
perhaps a procedure added or removed in which the surface of the coating was
left in a condition that more readily accepted the glue before than now. Of
course, it may just be a change in the glue that has occurred... either in
the amount used, application methods and timing, or even the formula of the
glue itself has undergone change.

I hope you can check into that, Rick.

> The Meisterklasse models (chromatic and diatonic) have nickel plated
> reedplates.

This I knew.

> The harmonica and accordion service departments here at Hohner USA use
> Pliobond as a valve adhesive.
<...>
> Hohner factory tested Pliobond a few years ago and, while they liked the
> way it held, they found it impractical to work with in production.

Hm. Interesting. But, if the present method of sticking the valves to the
plates is inadequate or problematic, doesn't that result in a product which
does not function as expected, and is therefore defective. I really do not
wish to go on replacing all the valves on every set of reedplates I buy to
get the proper performance out of them.

I also asked Mr. Farrell about this:

> The Special 20 Handmade, one of Hohner's most popular diatonics, is not
> being discontinued. On the contrary, players will find that, like the
> Marine Band and Golden Melody, the Special 20 is improving in performance
> capability through the use of new production tooling common to all three
> models. The Special 20 MS, however, is being phased out.

He said he'd not heard anything about the discontinuation of SP20s, but as
you state, the MS being phased out may have been what Norm was referring to,
as it has been available in Europe but not here... yes?

In fact, he just called me a short time ago to inform me that the regular,
handmade SP20s are in fact not being discontinued, but that the MS series,
which is only sold in Europe, may be on the ropes. So, I suppose this goes
to confirm what we've been hearing onlist.

I will add one more thing... Mr. Farrell met recently with the president of
Hering over several days, and has indicated to me he will be carrying some
of the newer Hering items soon, and had examined the notion of offering some
of their diatonics. Farrell's already offers the Master Blues Harp, and in
looking over their line, he thinks he might be adding the Hering Blues. [It
is in a group of similarities, which include the Black Blues and the Golden
Blues, I told him.] I also said I'd hope that he'd go with the Hering Blues
as my pick [and as well, the replacement reedplates Hering has for it,] and
I gather he may well go that route.

He is looking into the possibility of carrying the Velvet Voice chromatic by
Hering, but has yet to see it... Bertolazzi didn't have one with him on his
vist with Mr. Farrell.

As for the Musselwhite chromatic, I'm not sure he'll list it in his catalog,
but it's likely he will take orders for it.

Later folks...

________ ___________________________________________________________
=[ BOBBIE ]= ==================================== * Harp Spoken Here *
~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~