arzajac
127 posts
Mar 28, 2010
5:20 PM
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I bought a 1955 Hohner-made harmonica (Hoosier boy) that has been in storage since the seller was little kid back in the 50s. It cost $17. The thing is shiny and in good condition other than the musky/mouldy smell.
It seems to be made with reed plates that are the same size as a modern Marine Band. It was sold with a booklet which says the price was 35 cents. The reedplates are assembled slightly crooked or rather, they are just slightly off. This doesn't affect how it plays.
Anyway, I carefully removed the reedplaces and sanded the comb to treat the bad smell. I then sealed the comb by dunking it three times in butcher block oil over a few days.
I lightly sanded it and reassembled the reedplates back onto the comb. I recycled the nails and put small slivers of paper into each hole to help the nails stay tight. I heard of using a bit of toothpick to do that, but it seemed to me to be too big.
Now, it plays wonderfully. I mean hands down, the nicest harp I own. But the tips of the comb are unfinished. They have an unpleasant texture on my tongue. I had to sand off the finish that was there because of the mould.
When you seal the comb of an out-of-the-box wooden combed harp, do you leave that finish on the tips of the comb or do you sand it off? If you sand it off, does it "wear" back in - smooth out on it's own? Or should I finish the tips of the comb with something like a varnish?
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GermanHarpist
1318 posts
Mar 28, 2010
6:32 PM
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As far as the toothpic trick goes, I think they are supposed to replace the nails.
When talking about the tip of the comb are you talking about the tips of the tines? If you sanded the ootb sealant off the tines, I'd do the same procedure as with the rest of the comb, i.e. seal it and sand it very finely. Otherwise it will only get rougher as the wood breaks down.
Good job on the restauration project. What about a little vid review?
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germanharpist on YT. =;-) - Resonance is KEY!
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Stickman
275 posts
Mar 28, 2010
6:39 PM
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The toothpicks do NOT replace the nails. They replace the wood of the comp that was displaced by the nails so that the nails will fasten snugly again to the comb. As for the ends of the tines you might use a finer sandpaper to get a soother finish and then reseal. I use bees wax which gives it a very smooth finish,
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The Art Teacher Formally Known As scstrickland
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GermanHarpist
1319 posts
Mar 28, 2010
7:03 PM
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From Dave Paynes's vid I took that he stuck the toothpick in the hole and broke it off. I always thought that the pick would hold the coverplates to the sandwich. But it's true, when thinking about it, that actually doesn't make a lot of sense.
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germanharpist on YT. =;-) - Resonance is KEY!
Last Edited by on Mar 28, 2010 7:15 PM
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arzajac
128 posts
Mar 28, 2010
7:55 PM
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GH: Thanks for the encouragement. Yes, I am talking about the tips of the tines. And yes, I did sand them and seal them with the rest of the comb. Should I do something else to prevent the wood from breaking down?
I guess what I am trying to describe is that the tips have an unpleasant dryness. I am wondering if that will go away with time or get worse?
As for a video, I am not doing anything that hasn't already been done, nor do I really know what I am doing. But maybe I will post some photos. Maybe I'll also post the booklet - it is an interesting document. (Herb Shriner was a single-note tongue blocker)
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Tryharp
317 posts
Mar 29, 2010
4:09 AM
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G'day arzajac,
Ive got a Hoosier Boy too!! I saw Adam with one once, and thought I've got to get one of those, its a cool harp. I pulled it down, sealed it with beeswax, and bolted it back together, it plays great.
I cant find it just now ( to comment on the tines) as my three year old boy has been playing it!
Tryarp
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vicar88
18 posts
Mar 29, 2010
4:12 AM
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There's a vid on youtube from elk river where he shows you how to put drops of butcher's block stuff on the ends of the combs. Check it out!
Is there any reason why you can't use boiled linseed oil instead?
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