Can anyone in the MMD enlighten me as to how the reed voicers at
Wurlitzer managed to work out how much lead loading to attach to
the reed tongues, and what method of attachment did they use?

How did they control the heat so that the tongues didn't warp or
buckle?  What happened if they put to much on?  Did they just melt
it off again?

The reason for asking is that I am currently restoring a model 260
organ made for the Plazer Piccadilly London, a Paramount flagship
cinema in 1926.  I believe it was the first Wurlitzer installed in
this country to rise up on a lift.

I'm currently working with a voicing colleague, regulating and
adjusting the speech of the reeds and flues, and as a matter of course
raised the above questions.  Here in the UK it's common to find tongue
loads made of felt or lead, or both, attached with chats (Chattertons
compound), a kind of tar product that glues felt or lead to brass, and
I have never encountered blobs of solder direct on the tongues.

Incidentally what are the reed tongues made of?  The shallots are brass,
but the tongues look like phosphor bronze, or was it some other grade of
brass?  Any information would be most welcome, either in the columns
of MMD or direct to my own address.

Thanking you in anticipation
Paul Camps