34 BULLETIN 136, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



builder of Copenhagen, about the year 1780. Mr. Hawley writes as 

 follows concerning it : 



The free reed is invariably made of metal, though it could be made of other 

 material. It consists of a base or reed plate of sheet metal having a somewhat 

 narrow, rectangular opening. Over the opening is fastened a flexible tongue 

 of metal fastened at its base, and of width and length to pass freely through 

 the rectangular opening beneath without touching the sides or end. This 

 tongue is so formed as to lie in its normal position a little above the face of 

 the reed plate. A current of air forced through the opening in the reed causes 

 it to vibrate and the air to escape in puffs or waves, thus producing sound. The 

 pitch of the sound is governed by the formation of the vibrating tongue and 

 not by the length of the column of air. The longer the vibrating tongue the 

 slower will be its vibration and the lower its pitch ; the thinner the tongue 

 near its base the slower will be its vibrations ; frequently the outer end of 

 the tongue is loaded to produce slower vibrations. 



The harmonica, or mouth organ, is a free reed instrument blown by 

 the mouth. It is constructed with rectangular cells arranged in 

 rows. Some instruments have one row of cells and each cell has two 

 reeds, one speaking when the breath is drawn in, the other when the 

 breath is forced out. In other instruments the cells are arranged in 

 two rows, and each cell has one free metallic reed. In one row the 

 reed is inside the cell, and in the other it is outside. Those of one 

 row speak when the breath is forced through them, of the other 

 when it is drawn through them. Harmonicas are made in various 

 sizes, designated as in different keys. The Museum owns a large 

 group of these instruments (not exhibited), which were the gift of 

 J. Howard Foote in 1882. It is said the best harmonicas were made 

 by Richter, of Germany, and several of his manufacture are in this 

 group. Others were made by Langhaumer, of Germany, and Wil- 

 helm Thio, of Vienna. Later these instruments were manufactured 

 by the German Harmonica Company, of New York. 



A " concert harmonica " of German make is 55667. This consists 

 of four harmonicas united at right angles to each other. Each har- 

 monica has 12 cells in the outer edge, and brass reed plates. There 

 are two reeds in each cell, one placed inside and the other outside. 

 There is a perforated bone plate in the outer edge of each, and the 

 reed covers are of plain brass. The four wings or harmonicas have 

 each a different key. 



The accordion is a free reed instrument operated by means of a 

 keyboard and was invented in 1829 by Damian, of Vienna. Origi- 

 nally it was an extension of the harmonica, in which the reeds were 

 set in vibration by blowing through holes with the mouth. The 

 accordion supplied the air by means of bellows, but the principle of 

 sound production was the same. The essential constructive features 

 of the accordion are a pair of hand bellows, to one side of which is 

 attached a keyboard with keys which vary in number from 5 to 50, 



