Life cycles of free reed instruments: The accordion-concertina family and the reed organ-harmonium family as case studies

In 1800, the free reed instruments of European origin did not exist. Beginning in the 1820s, there was very rapid invention and innovation in the development and production of instruments like the reed organ and accordion so that within a few decades these instruments had reached something approaching their final form. By 1900 instruments with hand-driven bellows (accordions and concertinas) and instruments with foot-driven air supplies (reed organs and harmoniums) of a wide variety of types were being manufactured and played worldwide in large numbers. From around 1900 through the 1920s, there was a sharp drop in the number of new reed organs and harmoniums manufactured and sold. This number decreased to near zero by mid-century and has remained there. Meanwhile, the manufacture of the “squeeze box” instruments has remained robust to the present day. Factors involved in the discrepancy between these two families of instruments of almost identical acoustical design will be discussed. These include changes in musical styles and taste, socio-economic factors, and competition from other musical instruments.