Musical Instruments

These toy musical bells (purchased on Amazon) are painted with high-Lead paint — and are illegal (because they were sold to be used by children).

These toy musical bells (purchased on Amazon) are painted with high-Lead paint — and are illegal (because they were sold to be used by children).

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Sunday – March 27, 2022 There is quite a bit of information about these bells below  – with all questions that have been asked so far answered in detail. Please read the FULL post (scroll down and continue reading below each of the images, etc.) Thank you.  I am planning on reporting these to the…

Vintage violin tuner / pitch pipe – Made in Czechoslovakia: 4,201 ppm Lead + 1,316 ppm Cadmium on the end where you put your mouth.

Vintage violin tuner / pitch pipe – Made in Czechoslovakia: 4,201 ppm Lead + 1,316 ppm Cadmium on the end where you put your mouth.

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Here’s the general introduction I provide on a lot of my posts, for those who may be new to my work (or have possibly “stumbled upon” my work – while just casually browsing, or conducting more serious research): Tamara Rubin is a Federal-award-winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety and childhood Lead-poisoning prevention. She is also a mother…

Bassoon wire – sample #8: MMimports.com 1/4 lb 22 gauge brass wire: 113 ppm Lead (+ Copper + Zinc).

Bassoon wire – sample #8: MMimports.com 1/4 lb 22 gauge brass wire: 113 ppm Lead (+ Copper + Zinc).

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Wire Product Description: 22 Gauge Brass Wire – 4 oz (1/4 lb) SKU: brasswireba.25lb22ga Purchased at: https://www.mmimports.com/ When tested with an XRF Instrument the wire pictured here had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 113 +/- 56 ppm Bismuth (Bi): 211 +/- 97 ppm Tin (Sn): 120 +/- 50 ppm Zinc (Zn): 306,800 +/- 1,500 ppm…

Bassoon wire – sample #4: G-05 Forrests Music Brass Wire 21 gauge wire: 127 ppm Lead (+ Copper + Zinc).

Bassoon wire – sample #4: G-05 Forrests Music Brass Wire 21 gauge wire: 127 ppm Lead (+ Copper + Zinc).

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Wire Product Description: G-05 21 – Bsn Reed Wire, 21 ga Brass, 60ft Purchased at: https://www.forrestsmusic.com/ When tested with an XRF Instrument the wire pictured here had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 127 +/- 61 ppm Zinc (Zn): 299,900 +/- 1,500 ppm Copper (Cu): 699,000 +/- 1,900 ppm Nickel (Ni): 311 +/- 127 ppm Iron…

Bassoon wire – sample #7: PBW22 Miller Pro 22 gauge brass wire: Lead-free (Copper + Zinc).

Bassoon wire – sample #7: PBW22 Miller Pro 22 gauge brass wire: Lead-free (Copper + Zinc).

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Wire Product Description PBW22 Miller PRO Brass Wire, 22 Gauge, 1 LB spool Purchased at: http://www.millermarketingco.com/ When tested with an XRF Instrument the wire pictured here had the following readings: Zinc (Zn): 374,000 +/- 1,700 ppm Copper (Cu): 625,200 +/- 2,000 ppm Note: Lead-Free! No other metals detected. 3-minute test (180-seconds) Eight different types of…

Bassoon wire – sample #6: Charles Music BFW150 22 gauge brass wire: Lead-free (Copper + Zinc).

Bassoon wire – sample #6: Charles Music BFW150 22 gauge brass wire: Lead-free (Copper + Zinc).

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Wire Product Description: BFW150 22 Gauge Wire for Bassoon Reeds, One Ounce Purchased at: https://charlesmusic.com/ When tested with an XRF Instrument the wire pictured here had the following readings: Bismuth (Bi): 219 +/- 101 ppm Tin (Sn): 108 +/- 52 ppm Zinc (Zn): 308,500 +/- 1,500 ppm Copper (Cu): 690,300 +/- 1,900 ppm Note: Lead-Free! No…

Bassoon wire – sample #5: 2XW22 Miller Marketing Soft Brass 22 gauge wire: Lead-free (Copper + Zinc).

Bassoon wire – sample #5: 2XW22 Miller Marketing Soft Brass 22 gauge wire: Lead-free (Copper + Zinc).

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Wire Product Description: 2XW22 2XREED Soft Brass Wire 22 Gauge 100ft Purchased at: http://www.millermarketingco.com/ When tested with an XRF Instrument the wire pictured here had the following readings: Bismuth (Bi): 279 +/- 64 ppm Zinc (Zn): 237,800 +/- 15,000 ppm Copper (Cu): 416,000 +/- 25,000 ppm Note: Lead-Free! No other metals detected. 3-minute test (180-seconds)…

Bassoon wire – sample #1: Hodge Products Zebra Wire: Lead Free! (Copper + Zinc).

Bassoon wire – sample #1: Hodge Products Zebra Wire: Lead Free! (Copper + Zinc).

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Wire Product Description: W22Z-15 Bassoon Wire 22 gauge (15 yds) for bassoon – Zebra Wire Purchased at: https://hodgeproductsinc.com  When tested with an XRF Instrument the wire pictured here had the following readings: Zinc (Zn): 343,000 +/- 32,000 ppm Copper (Cu): 602,200 +/- 53,000 ppm Note: Lead-free! No other metals detected. 3-minute test (180-seconds) Eight different types…

Bassoon wire – sample #2: Rieger Reed Wire Brass RBRW7 22 gauge wire: Lead Free! (Copper + Zinc).

Bassoon wire – sample #2: Rieger Reed Wire Brass RBRW7 22 gauge wire: Lead Free! (Copper + Zinc).

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Wire Product Description RBRW7 Rieger Reed Wire, Brass – .7mm approx. 22 Gauge, 200 Grams Purchased at http://www.millermarketingco.com/ When tested with an XRF Instrument the wire pictured here had the following readings: Zinc (Zn): 307,700 +/- 25,000 ppm Copper (Cu): 562,500 +/- 45,000 ppm Note: Lead-free! No other metals detected. 3-minute test (180-seconds) Eight different…

Bassoon wire – sample #3: G-05 35 Ft Forrests Music Brass Wire 22 gauge wire: Lead Free! (Copper + Zinc).

Bassoon wire – sample #3: G-05 35 Ft Forrests Music Brass Wire 22 gauge wire: Lead Free! (Copper + Zinc).

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Wire Product Description: G-05 35 Ft 22 Gauge Brass Wire purchased at Forrests Music https://www.forrestsmusic.com/ When tested with an XRF Instrument the wire pictured here had the following readings: Zinc (Zn): 307,500 +/- 1,700 ppm Copper (Cu): 688,100 +/- 2,300 ppm Titanium (Ti): 1,903 +/- 252 ppm Note: Lead-free! No other metals detected. 3-minute test…

Original vinyl bench for 1975 Hammond organ: 4,138 ppm Lead, 370 Arsenic, 21 Cadmium + 835 Antimony!

Original vinyl bench for 1975 Hammond organ: 4,138 ppm Lead, 370 Arsenic, 21 Cadmium + 835 Antimony!

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When tested with an XRF instrument the vinyl covered bench for this 1975 Hammond organ had the following readings: Brown vinyl seat of organ bench: Lead (Pb): 4,138 +/- 113 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 21 +/- 8 ppm Arsenic (As): 370 +/- 102 ppm Barium (Ba): 15,600 +/- 300 ppm Chromium (Cr): 1,117 +/- 212 Antimony…

Keyboard for 1975 Hammond organ: 73 ppm Lead + 186 Cadmium (& why I make an “exception” for instruments.)

Keyboard for 1975 Hammond organ: 73 ppm Lead + 186 Cadmium (& why I make an “exception” for instruments.)

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When tested with an XRF instrument, the plastic keys of this 1975 Hammond organ keyboard (with the full organ pictured below) had the following readings: White Keys of Organ Keyboard Lead (Pb): 73 +/- 7 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 186 +/- 10 ppm Barium (Ba): 387 +/- 77 ppm Zinc (Zn): 249 +/- 14 ppm Iron…

1970s Yamaha Recorder: 6,652 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) 4,737 ppm Cadmium (75 is unsafe) & 1,572 ppm Mercury.

1970s Yamaha Recorder: 6,652 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) 4,737 ppm Cadmium (75 is unsafe) & 1,572 ppm Mercury.

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When  tested with an XRF instrument this vintage recorder (musical instrument) had the following readings: This is the reading with the XRF analyzer window focused on the gold of the Yamaha logo: Lead (Pb): 6,662+/- 282 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 4,737 +/-192 ppm Mercury (Hg): 1,572 +/- 107 ppm This is the reading of the brown…

Hand Painted Wooden Maracas, Made In Mexico: 1,219 ppm Lead (Context: 90 ppm is illegal in new children’s items).

Hand Painted Wooden Maracas, Made In Mexico: 1,219 ppm Lead (Context: 90 ppm is illegal in new children’s items).

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  I tested this set of wooden (made in Mexico) maracas with an XRF instrument, and the painted area on these had the following reading: Lead (Pb): 1,219 ppm For context, the amount of Lead that is considered unsafe in a newly manufactured item intended for use by children is anything 90 ppm Lead or…

Tiny Brass “Handcast” Tibetan Meditation Bowl: 56,400 ppm Lead (this is a very typical amount of Lead for yellow brass!)

Tiny Brass “Handcast” Tibetan Meditation Bowl: 56,400 ppm Lead (this is a very typical amount of Lead for yellow brass!)

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For those new to this website: Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method used…

Vintage Handmade Wooden Percussion Drum: Lead Free! [Click to read full XRF test results.]

Vintage Handmade Wooden Percussion Drum: Lead Free! [Click to read full XRF test results.]

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When tested with an XRF instrument all components of this piece were negative (Non-Detect) for the following metals (& any other metal not listed below in the specific results listing): Lead (Pb) Mercury (Hg) Cadmium (Cd) Arsenic (As) Antimony (Sb) Selenium (Se) Chromium (Cr) Here’s a link to a similar style drum on Amazon.* In…

#AskTamara: Q. Could A Vintage Leaded Brass Mouthpiece Cause Kidney Failure In A Trumpet Player? A. Maybe

#AskTamara: Q. Could A Vintage Leaded Brass Mouthpiece Cause Kidney Failure In A Trumpet Player? A. Maybe

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#AskTamara Question: Could a vintage leaded brass mouthpiece cause (or contribute to) kidney failure in a professional trumpet player? Answer: Maybe. The vintage (c. 1980s or earlier) trumpet mouthpiece shown here tested positive for a relatively high level of lead for leaded brass (22,200 ppm lead.) It is a bare leaded brass mouthpiece that is…

2006 Nursery Songs Book With Built In Xylophone: 62,500 ppm Lead [90 ppm Lead is unsafe.]

2006 Nursery Songs Book With Built In Xylophone: 62,500 ppm Lead [90 ppm Lead is unsafe.]

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Nursery Songs book with built in xylophone. First published in 2006 by The Five Mile Press Pty Ltd, e-mail: publishing@fivemile.com.au. Tested positive as high as 62,500 ppm LEAD!!!!!! (when tested with an XRF instrument.) The component that was the highest lead was the yellow xylophone key. New legislation was signed and put in place in the…

Toy Brass Cymbal with Wooden Handle: 274 ppm Lead. [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids]

Toy Brass Cymbal with Wooden Handle: 274 ppm Lead. [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids]

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Child’s mini brass cymbal – with wooden handle: 274 ppm Lead. Modern toys are regulated and required to be under 90 ppm lead in the paint or coating when tested with an XRF instrument (90 ppm in the coating or 100 ppm in the substrate). Year of manufacture and maker of this toy are unknown. Tested…

BluesBand Hohner International New Harmonica: Positive for 455 ppm Mercury & 146 ppm Arsenic!

BluesBand Hohner International New Harmonica: Positive for 455 ppm Mercury & 146 ppm Arsenic!

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#LeadFree New 2017 BluesBand, Hohner International Harmonica. Tested with an XRF instrument. Most of the components of this instrument are free of heavy metals, however, the small bronze/ yellow colored square elements with scalloped edges (see close up photo above) had the following readings when tested with an XRF instrument: Lead (Pb): Negative/ Non-Detect Mercury…

#LeadedTrumpetMouthpieces: A response to a band leader…

#LeadedTrumpetMouthpieces: A response to a band leader…

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Band leaders across the country are understandably upset about my findings of lead in trumpet mouthpieces. The easy response for some is to not believe my findings and to try to discredit them (at least in their own minds) so that they feel that they do not need to alert their band members, nor take any…

#AskTamara: Q. Does my child’s trumpet mouthpiece have unsafe levels of lead? A. “Yes, most do.” Click the image to learn more.

#AskTamara: Q. Does my child’s trumpet mouthpiece have unsafe levels of lead? A. “Yes, most do.” Click the image to learn more.

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#AskTamara – Question: Does my child’s trumpet mouthpiece contain unsafe levels of lead? – Answer: In most cases, yes. – Please continue reading below for more information.   Leaded Trumpet Mouthpieces.   Only one of the mouthpieces pictured here has no lead. – Trumpet mouthpieces (and mouthpieces on any brass instruments for that matter) are not regulated…