Harmonica Reed Question

[littlehugger]

I didnt recognize it until I saw one in a pic attached to Nana40's post.
I found one on Sunday, among all the crap.
What era is it indicative of?
Hugger

 

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[JakePhelps]

Mainy 1800's or early 1900's. They were popular from the late 1700's to the mid 1900's. But for the wood to decay might take quite awhile...

 

[JoeMoto]

Actually they're reed plates. The reed is the narrow thin piece of brass that fits over each slot and vibrates when the harmonica is blown or drawn through. Modern harps also use brass plates, so it's possible that it is newer...

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

They also made reed organs. Foot pedals pumped up a bag that pushed air to the reeds. I have a White's portable reed organ that was used on the wwI battlefield in 1917. The bag is rotten. I guess they stopped making them when electric became popular.