Reed materials in old samuel barnett

[Buckram Bill]

I bought an old Barnett lachenal 20 button Anglo wreck a while back.

I have managed to get it airtight and playing OK  I had to make a few reeds from old accordion reeds.  Whilst tuning it up I have worked out that there are at least 4 different Reed types in it now and I am curious as to what they are

1   easy ..... old accordion reeds (I put them there)

2  bronze reeds dark and soft as putty

3 very slightly goldy silver reeds which are quite soft to file but not as soft as 2

4  steel reeds which aren't as hard as the accordion ones

 

What are numbers 3 and 4  and does anyone know what would have been the original type for this little box?

[GEDI]

I have a Lachenal which is labelled Barnett Samuel. It has all steel reeds.  Its serial 16946 about late 1860s.   But I wouldn't necessarily say all Barnett Samuel instruments would be the same. I guess they came off the production run of Lachenal and then labelled.     Not much help I know but it is one example         Cheers Gerry

[Tiposx]

Goldy Silver would describe the nickel silver reeds in the 1853 Rock Chidley I owned.

[Buckram Bill]

Stupid question i know but what is nickel silver actually made from?  it is quite soft    

[alex_holden]

6 hours ago, Buckram Bill said:

Stupid question i know but what is nickel silver actually made from?  it is quite soft    

 

Around 60% copper : 20% nickel : 20% zinc. It's slightly harder than brass but much softer than spring steel. Also known as German silver. The name is because it was originally developed as a cheap substitute for real silver.

[Buckram Bill]

Thank-you . i just realised that that is what my knives and forks are made of.    

[alex_holden]

7 minutes ago, Buckram Bill said:

Thank-you . i just realised that that is what my knives and forks are made of.    

 

They might be EPNS, which also has a very thin plating of pure silver.