I have been making and playing oboe reeds for many decades (and playing English Horn reeds as well in recent years). These reeds have been designed in millimeters everywhere for these many decades, in the USA and throughout the world! I use Jay Light's "Oboe Reed Book" and "The Reed Maker's Manual" by Weber and Capps; both totally in millimeters.
We are playing Bernstein's Introduction to West Side Story and Movements from Hanson's 2nd Symphony on May 6th at Parkland Community College in Champaign, Illinois. The concert is free. Come hear my English Horn solo from West Side. Gene Mechtly ________________________________ From: Kilopascal [[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2012 7:50 AM To: [email protected]; U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:51602] Metric oboe reeds Most likely because they are not of American origin. If they are of American origin I can see getting excited over it. Now according to this source: http://www.hodgeproductsinc.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=214 Jay Light is a native of Philadelphia. The cover of his book shows a dimensional drawing in millimetres only. But this is too little information to determine the origins of either the equipment or the detailed information. Americans don't use the metric system unless converting foreign data causes too many problems and errors and it is just better to give in and use metric units. Also from this source: http://www.vcisinc.com/oboe.htm The book was originally published in 1983, and could have been written earlier and at a time when metric enthusiasm was was high, especially among professionals. If written today I'm sure everything would either be dual or converted. Since the book is just reprinted as is, no one is going to bother to de-metricate it to satisfy the present mood of the US unless there were sufficient complaints and the costs justified it. [USMA:51602] Metric oboe reeds James Frysinger Sat, 14 Apr 2012 13:35:33 -0700 I have just received a book I ordered as a birthday gift for my wife, _The Oboe Reed Book_ , by Jay Light. Having glanced through it quickly it seems that the book uses only metric units. Specifically, critical reed dimensions are given in millimeters, to the nearest 0.1 mm. I have noticed that all the reed making kits I looked at online include a ruler and that they all are said to be marked in metric units (as well as in inches). I suspect that reeds, at least double reeds, are all done in metric units. I should receive another book soon, one on making double reeds for early music instruments (crumhorns, cornamuses, etc.) and I expect that one also will be in metric. I'll let you know. Jim -- James R. Frysinger 632 Stony Point Mountain Road Doyle, TN 38559-3030 (C) 931.212.0267 (H) 931.657.3107 (F) 931.657.3108
