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From: WVE~ol.com
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 13:11:14 EDT
Subject: Re: A study: The effects of break-in on durability.

In a message dated 98-08-27 20:51:03 EDT, you write:
> From: ironm~oonlink.net (Mike Curtis)

> > better to break them in and then life test them on a machine so their
> > experience will be identical.
>
> I suspect this would only prove that they did (or didn't) last longer in
> a machine, and not how long they'd last if a real player played them.
> Do we really care how long they'll last in a machine?

Yes, because it is inconceivable that a break-in treatment that improved
fatigue performance on the machine would not affect reed life...and vice
versa.
If they lasted longer in a machine, that would demonstrate the existence of a
break-in effect....and vice versa.

> I don't, other
> than as a point of curiosity of no value to me as a professional
> harmonica player. If we are going to do a valid test using a machine,
> we need a machine that will accurately emulate all the manipulations and
> abuses a player might inflict, because in my experience it is these that
> cause reeds to fail.

Metal fatigue is a function of cumulative stress and number of cycles. A
machine setup could be changed from time to time to alter the stress level.

> BTW I recall that one person on list tried to get a vacuum cleaner to
> play/test the harmonica. Some reeds did not sound.

I have no difficulty getting all reeds to sound, either in the harp or on a
bare reedplate.

Trying to emulate the "manipulations and abuses" of real playing has some
problems:
1. The machine would be vastly more complex.
2. It would be very difficult to describe the test parameters so that it could
be repeated. It would be impossible to relate the data to published data on
fatigue and coaxing.
3. A good test eliminates or controls as many variables as possible.
Aircraft design would be impossible if the results of simple fatigue tests
could not be applied to the "manipulations and abuses" of actual flight.
Fatigue failures do rarely occur but the vast majority of flights land safely.

The tone of your comments suggests that you wish to set requirements that
preclude the possibility of a test.

Vern