Who Invented the Solo System Reed Placement?

[John Broecker]

Hello, SlideMeisters.

The Solo System reed placement, standard on most
manufactured slide chromatics today, was patented
by William Benjamin Yates, of Alviso, California,
on August 20th, 1907.

The USA Patent number is #863960. This is the earliest
known patent for the Solo System, but it may have been
in use before that date.

The solo system was originally introduced on 12-hole
diatonic harmonicas. On the chart, exhale reeds are
listed in large letters; inhale reeds are listed in small
letters.

Both reed placements are listed on the patent form, but
Figure #1 is the system that we call the solo system,
today:

SOLO SYSTEM Figure #1, key of C harmonica:
Note the redundant C notes in holes 4-5 and 8-9:

Hole: ||  1  |  2 |  3  |  4  |  5   | 6   |  7  | 8   |  9  |10 | 11 | 12 ||
         ||C d |E f |G a |b C |C d |E  f |G a |b C |C d |E f |G a |b C ||

SOLO SYSTEM Figure #4, key of C harmonica:
No redundant C notes; holes 3 and 9 have (inhaled
notes), as optional factory pitches or missing reeds?

Hole:  ||  1  | 2  |  3      |  4  |  5 |  6  |  7  | 8  |  9  | 10     | 11 | 12 ||
          ||C d |E f |G(a b)|C d |E f |G a |b C |d E |f G |(a b)C |d E |f G ||

In the patent, there are also two, note charts for 10-hole diatonics. Figure
#2 is like the 12-hole Figure #4,no holes 11 and 12. Figure #3 is like Fig.
#4, but starts on Figure #4's hole #2, exhale E, with hole 9 listed C,a;
and hole 10, (b,d,)E. No holes 11 and 12.

Best Regards, Stay Healthy

JB

[Danny G]

I looked at the title of this thread and wondered what the heck is the Soo system.
Fat thumbing lasts longer than a slip of the tongue but our fearless leader has the ability to edit.
Now we know that William Benjamin Yates is responsible for the long learning curve for the chromatic harmonica.
Thanks for the info John

[John Broecker]

Thanks for your correction, Danny.

The correction has been made.

JB