[Alan Brinton]

I think you are right about the importance of the information at Pat Missin’s Web site, Johan. It’s a wonderful site. Anyone trying to design a new melodica should be aware of what he says about free reeds and about the history of different kinds of free reed instruments. However, I think the most important developers of melodicas in Europe and Japan have had awareness of this kind of information, as Daren says. They also have been among the makers and developers of other and earlier instruments. Hohner, Suzuki, Yamaha, and Tokai are all musical instrument companies with a history of making and developing other instruments.