Wheatstone brass reeds

[SteveS]

As you may be aware from another thread I'm in the process of rebuilding a brass reeded Aeola TT (I'll update that thread with pics of the new ends shortly). Last night I was on with replacing the valves when I noticed something peculiar with the reeds. On some of the reeds there seems to be a shiney area that looks very much lighter than the yellow of the brass - almost white like steel, and where the tuning file (historical tuning) has taken metal away it appears to have penetrated to this lighter layer. It's almost as though the reeds are of a light-coloured metal (I hesitate to say steel since there's no sign of rust at all) - which has been plated with brass. Any ideas what this might be?

 

Steve

 

PS Also I've almost got the 'tina playing - the indications are that the reeds are very loud, warm and very responsive - more details later once I get it playing for real.

[Theo]

Brass reeds usually acquire a surface tarnish that is darker than the clean metal surface exposed by filing. That can give the effect you describe.

[SteveS]

Brass reeds usually acquire a surface tarnish that is darker than the clean metal surface exposed by filing. That can give the effect you describe.

Theo - this is not my filing but appears to be the original filing (I havent yet started the tuning) so I'd have expected a uniform tarnish across the whole surface of the reed.

[SteveS]

I see from the Wheatstone price lists that they refer to 'Special Composition Metal Reeds for damp and tropical climates' - were these reeds really brass or some other material(s)? Or is brass just an assumption?

Edited November 16, 2010 by SteveS