Al Sefl told us in MMD 00.08.15.06 a weight on the tongue would render
a more mellow tone, an aspect I never saw in my scarce literature and
something I think is very important.  Has somebody else also written
about this, or is it common knowledge with the professionals?  Anyway,
a revelation to an unwitting amateur like me.

Another thing I wonder about is how to fasten the weight.  In my first
attempts I soldered weights, believing that was the natural way to make
a reliable joint, but with most discouraging results.  Audsley, about
the Willis application of weights [1], tells the weight should be
conical so there is only a point contact between the weight and the
tongue such that you do not interfere with the bending motions of the
tongue.

Soldering would stiffen the tongue for quite a distance along it and
prevent its bending, and I believe riveting the weight would introduce
deformation in the tongue that could be disastrous to its delicate
curve.

This requirement not to disturb the tongue curve and bending, does it
explain why people have used relatively more insecure ways to fasten
the weight, like shellac or other resilient adhesives?

And Al, referring to MMD 00.08.11.03, what does a reed vise look like?
A flat steel bar with a low profile clamp at its end?  Could you tell
an over-aged apprentice?

Johan Liljencrants

Ref.:  [1] Audsley, G A (1905): The art of organ building.
Dover Publ. Inc., NY 1965. Vol. II, p 595, plate VIII, fig 8.