Concertina Innerds

[darticus]

Wondered what holds the buttons on?This is an old Bastari concertina. These buttons seem to wobble in the holes but it does play fine. Almost like they are on a ball joint. Also I need a pin that goes through a strap metal holder. Someone just put a screw without nut through the hole. Is there somewhere I could get the pin with a flat head on both sides. See Pics. Thanks Ron

[Geoff Wooff]

If a Pin has a 'flat head on both sides' how would you get it in ?

 

You could look for suitably sized Brass nails at a hardware store. It should be possible to find some with slightly domed heads. Now the tricky part is to measure the length needed and crop a nail so that there is enough protruding from the hand rail and clip to be able to form a 'head' on the other end of the nail shaft. When you have the right length remove the nail and heat it with a gas flame untill it begins to glow dull red and quench it in cool water. This will soften the metal. Then you can clean it up, re-insert it in the hand rail, support the head end on something really solid, then carefully tap the other end with a small hammer to form the second 'head'.

 

Tricky but possible!

 

It is, of course, entirely probable that the whole strap clip assemble fits into a slot on the inner face of the hand rail.... which means that further disassembly will allow access for a better repair.

Edited August 23, 2016 by Geoff Wooff

[Dana Johnson]

The Bastaris I have seen all have buttons with a small flat plate coming out if the base. This plate is loosely riveted to the end of the aluminum lever arm, which allows the button to swing a little as the lever moves through its smal arc. Sometimes there is a piece of plastic tube at the junction which helps keep the buttons in line. The materials used are very soft and after long playing, the buttons will be at all angles and often get lodged below the end plate. The whole action is very poorly engineered with a large number of pads far out of line with the lever arm, creating enough side torque to cause fast wear in the soft aluminum at the common pivot rod and resulting twisting of he levers and resultant angling if the attached buttons. Bastaris were at least better made than the Stagis that they later became. Even the much less expensive Rochells and Jackies are much better designed.