Cleaning/Preserving vintage pear wood comb & reed plates
Hi Kinya!
I've looked back through a lot of your older posts (extremely helpful stuff), but didn't find what I was looking for: A very good friend recently gifted my with his dad's old 12-hole Marine Band (from late '60's to early '70's era). All the notes sound great, but I know it's got to be dirty and want to clean it up good. This leads me to a couple of questions;
The comb is pear wood, so I know I can't just throw it in a bowl of cleaner and scrub it with a toothbrush like a plastic comb. But, I do want to make sure it's clean. I'm wondering what to use to clean it? I'll be going over it with a magnifier as well to check for cracks/breaks at the same time.
This, then leads to my next question of treatment for the wood. I want to make sure the wood is going to last and was thinking of a bee's wax & orange oil treatment I use on my oak furniture and pieces of carved wood. It soaks in well and after a few hours or a day, shouldn't leave a lot of smell or taste behind. Would this work for a pear wood comb?
The brass reed plates probably have some corrosion, and I was wondering about general cleaning of something this old? I'm sure there will be spots of heavier corrosion or grime. I am thinking that the slightly "tarnished" areas (where the brass has darkened) could be left that way, so as to preserve the "vintage" look and wonder if it will affect anything?
I know you've got some videos on here of basic cleaning techniques, but haven't found them again yet. I'll go through those again when I find them. Looking forward to your insight and assistance.
Thanks so much Kinya! That all helps a great deal. I did make me think of a couple of other questions:
For the polyurathane, would a spray work well, or is the brush-on better in your opinion? (I'm guessing the latter as that is what you linked to.)
At what point would you recommend beginning to shop for a replacement comb? I watched your video on comb materials, and several of those sound good. Would you replace the wood (pun fully intended), say if it were cracked across the full width (so, actually broken in two), or if there were more than, say 4 or 5 cracks to repair?
My intention is to make this into a playing instrument.
Thanks again!
Good call, I've used both spray and liquid polyurathane with terrific results.
Contact Ron at Rockin' Rons Music Phone: 858-736-4068, and ask him about Andrew Zajac's custom combs for pricing and availability. Andrew's work is world class. rr@rockinronsmusicsd.com
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Hey BarnOwl, can you attach photos of your "project" harmonica to this Forum site. Our members would luv to see what you are up to.
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
I will! I'm hoping to get started on it this "weekend" (my days off are Tuesday & Wednesday, so "weekend" is relative). I'm looking forward to getting started.
Hi again Kinya!
So, I have the cover plates off, but there appears to be a number of small, brass rivets holding the reed plates on to the comb. I am guessing these can be replaced with very small wood screws? I have a lot of screws that I've accumulated over the years, but I doubt I have any that small - is there a good source for something to replace them with? I haven't done anything with rivets since I was in the Navy (in the '70's/'80's), so I don't think I can do these very easily.
Also, what is a good way to take them off? I have a Dremel tool, so I'm sure I can carefully grind them down ... unless there's a better option?
I have some photos, but I haven't set up an on-line storage. Guess that's getting added to my "to do" list.
I'm going to try to post a photo here. This is the low end of the draw reed plate, it shows a few of the rivents quite well. This also has the worst patch of "tarnish" (for want of a better word) - surprisingly, that reed still moves freely.
And the photo bit isn't working ... please stand by ...
I'll try posting a link to it ...
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1wkloURIEHPg1kxrFBQi0YhCXHVjWtLcQ
Hi Barn Owl, good idea on linking your photo. Yup it's definitely got some wear ...
The procedure to safely remove the reed plates from the wooden comb is a remarkably easy thing to do. I am currently away from my bench, so I won't be able to include step-by-step photos. Give me until Sunday, and I will put something together for you!
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
BTW, do you have access to a drill press that will handle small drill bits (#50) and threading tap for 2-56 machine screws?
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Legacy Hohner diatonic and chromatic harmonicas are fastened together with small brads (nails). A “reversible” retainer ring plier works extremely well for popping nails. Reversible means as you close down on the plier handles, the needle nose part of the pliers spread open.
Insert the needle nose part of the pliers into the mouthpiece holes (between blow/draw reed plates), then squeeze the handles together and watch the reed plates safely lift off the comb.If there are any stubborn nails, use a utility blade or single edge razor blade to pry the head of the nail up.
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Hi again Kinya. Sorry it took so long to get back in here ... to much O.T. at work.
Anyway, on the harmonica in question, the cover plates were attached with screws and the flat nuts that's pretty standard today. You can see them in this photo;
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1cQYr3heR3RIbgKaBeAxthaTJKgdhrvbw
The reed plates seem to be attached wtih rivets rather than nails, they're thicker than the nails I've seen, and you can see that they've been peened over as rivets are - both ends appear like this;
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1VgifS_MCUkr4Pn4gmIYgIM7S7azXK5qw
Perhaps they are nails though. But they do line up from one reed plate to the other ...
I think I might have a retainer ring pliers, but if not, I can get them easy enough. The drill press and tap I might have to hunt around for. I take it the idea would be to enlarge the holes on one reed plate, then tap the holes in the other and screw them together that way?
Hi Barn Owl:
You wrote: The reed plates seem to be attached wtih rivets rather than nails, they're thicker than the nails I've seen, and you can see that they've been peened over as rivets
HS: These still look like nail heads to me. Hohner used different size nails for the various models, for example, the early Golden Melody used larger nails than the Marine Band harmonica. The Golden Melody uses an acrylic comb, and therefore, required the nails to pass through the indexed holes and penetrated the opposite reed plate. I did not see the blow side of your harmonica, so it was difficult to line up the nail points.
You wrote: I take it the idea would be to enlarge the holes on one reed plate, then tap the holes in the other and screw them together that way?
HS: That is correct. If can not locate your hidden tapping tools, then using nuts--(not as clean looking), but will suffice. Size 1-72 machine screws and nuts work well for this application. www.micromark.com has excellent pricing and availability.
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Hey Barn Owl, everyone wants to know how your restoration project is coming along?
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Hey Barn Owl, everyone wants to know how your restoration project is coming along?
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Hello Barn Owl, it's good to hear from you.
Your queries are timely. Yesterday I restored a Hohner Marine Band 1896 (pearwood comb) and Crossover (bamboo comb).
Q1: I'm wondering what to use to clean it? I'll be going over it with a magnifier as well to check for cracks/breaks at the same time.
A1: Never wash or soak wooden combs! All the metal components, on the other hand, can be cleaned with an Ultrasonic bath, or washed in a sink with light dishwashing soap and toothbrush (WARNING: do not use your spouse’s toothbrush… it won’t end well ;o)
A1.2: After you examine the comb for cracks (use wood filler as needed), sand both sides of the comb--that mates up to both your blow and draw reed plates--by sliding the comb across non-clogging fine/finish grade sheet of sandpaper. Check out this forum post from October 2017:
Q2: This, then leads to my next question of treatment for the wood. I want to make sure the wood is going to last and was thinking of a bee's wax & orange oil treatment I use on my oak furniture and pieces of carved wood. It soaks in well and after a few hours or a day, shouldn't leave a lot of smell or taste behind. Would this work for a pear wood comb?
A2: That would not be my preference. The residue and smell turns me off ;o( I recommend applying/sanding a couple of coats of Verathane Satin Polyurethane finish
Q3: The brass reed plates probably have some corrosion, and I was wondering about general cleaning of something this old? I'm sure there will be spots of heavier corrosion or grime. I am thinking that the slightly "tarnished" areas (where the brass has darkened) could be left that way, so as to preserve the "vintage" look and wonder if it will affect anything?
A3: If the intent of your restoration project is to display your vintage harmonica, then I would recommend Happich’s SemiChrome paste
If you plan on playing this instrument, then I would not attempt to remove the tarnish from the reed plates--especially the reeds. The exceptions are (1) you will be sanding (400g-600g Wet/Dry sandpaper) the mating surface of the draw reed plate and/or (2) you love to tune harmonica reeds ;o)
Your Harpsmith, Kinya