Firstly the term 'metal xylophone' is an oxymoron.  A xylophone by
definition is made of wood.

The source that I have used for years is a bar set from bells as sold to
school bands.  These are not the bell-lyra product although I believe
the bell bars themselves are the same.  The ones that would get were
housed in a closeable case for convenient carrying.  It was a simple
matter to remove the bars from their mounting in the case and remount
them in either the orchestrion or organ that I was working on.

They are already tuned and drilled for mounting so utilizing them is
relatively simple compared to making them from scratch, which I did once
and would never do again, not even on a bet.

The making of a xylophone is a much simpler matter as several hardwoods
are easily available that will produce the tone desired and yet not
deteriorate so as to cause problems.  As a matter of fact several years
ago my son cut down a large mulberry tree in our yard.  It's next life
was as a xylophone on a 65 note player piano that I converted into a G
roll orchestrion.  Sounds great.

I have the facilities in my machine shop to make such things as metal
bell bars but I still wouldn't want to waste the time and effort when I
can get perfectly good bars from the local high school music supplier.

Hal Davis