Opening A Concertina To See Reeds

[darticus]

Is it easy to do? Will all the buttons spill out all over? Here are some picks maybe you can share your knowledge so I can open it up without damaging. THANKS Ron

[David Barnert]

The buttons will not be a problem unless you open the action box, which you won't have to do to access the reeds. Just unscrew the end bolts and remove the ends. All the moving parts (buttons, levers, springs, pads) will be hidden in the action box, which, if you wanted to open it, would require unscrewing an additional screw from the inside.

[Stephen Chambers]

Seeing that it's a German concertina, you'll see that there are three domed-headed woodscrews around the perimeter of the end Ron. Find a scewdriver that's a good fit in the slots of them (you don't want it to slip out and damage the end, nor for it to damage the screw slot) and carefully undo them.

 

The complete end, including the reeds, should then lift off. There's no risk of didturbing the buttons, which are sealed into the action box of the end and (seeing that it's German) likely to be glued onto wooden levers anyway.

 

Again, be very careful when re-assembling it - make sure the screws are in the same holes they were in to start with, and that the end is in the same alignment it was originally, then tghten up the screws, but only "touch tight", don't overdo it or you could cause damage.

[bellowbelle]

Just 2 days ago -- on the 24th -- I finally faced my fear of opening my treble concertina (the Morse Albion English, but not the baritone English)! Though, mine has a different layout than this one.

 

I've let that concertina just sit around unplayed because one tone was stuck -- the lever came unglued from the pad (...if I've said that right). It's happened before. Previously, I've brought it to The Button Box, and paid them to have it fixed. Bob Snopes did tell me one time that I could probably fix it myself if I wanted to, but I was too nervous about it.

 

So the first time I opened it, I did manage to send the buttons here and there. I spent some time looking around on the floor but I finally did find the missing button.

 

Applied the glue, a favorite kind of mine but not sure it's the recommended glue -- Mighty Mend-it, it's called. (We'll see.) It held for a while and then not, but I may have disturbed it too soon. So I had to try a second time, and it seems to have worked but I'll check for sure a little later.

 

Of course, if I haven't managed to fix it, I'll bring it to the Button Box out west in Sunderland, MA. I have more stuff for them to look at, anyway.... I just don't make very many treks here and there -- difficult to be gone from my house for a whole day, etc..

 

So, anyway, I am quite satisfied with the fact that I have finally dared to fix my concertina all by myself! That is, if I am not actually wrecking it

[David Barnert]

Congratulations, Wendy. I hope it works out.

 

Yes, the lesson here is: The ideal surface on which to open a concertina is a solid level tabletop covered by a soft cloth to minimize things rolling around. I once watched in horror as one of my end bolts rolled and dropped between the slats of a rustic wooden picnic table to the tall grass beneath it. AAARGH!! Never again!

[Patrick McMahon]

I have a few small but very strong magnets for keeping screws together. It works for any small steel objects. Also very good for finding them if you DO drop them. No good for plastic etc though.

[bellowbelle]

Congratulations, Wendy. I hope it works out.

 

Yes, the lesson here is: The ideal surface on which to open a concertina is a solid level tabletop covered by a soft cloth to minimize things rolling around. I once watched in horror as one of my end bolts rolled and dropped between the slats of a rustic wooden picnic table to the tall grass beneath it. AAARGH!! Never again!

 

So far, so good...I've played the instrument a few times since making the repair and the glue seems to be holding alright. It's nice to have my treble concertina playable again!

 

-- Your story reminds me of a similar experience:

 

I once lived in a cabin with no electricity or plumbing, etc -- I could go to a barn nearby for those luxuries if I needed to, but anyway, about the only hobby I could pursue (even almost in the dark) while taking a rest was to crochet (yarn). (I hadn't even thought about playing the concertina, at that point!) So... I yelled out "NOOOOO!!!" and watched in horror one day when my one and only crochet hook fell out of my hand, rolled across the floor boards, and fell right into a crack. Gone forever. And nothing left to do...can't even wash dishes, with no water... Anyway, I don't crochet anymore, now that I have concertinas! (Actually, I'd love to crochet again but my hands can't take it well...repetitive motion syndrome.)

[bellowbelle]

I have a few small but very strong magnets for keeping screws together. It works for any small steel objects. Also very good for finding them if you DO drop them. No good for plastic etc though.

 

I have some magnetic dishes intended for pins while sewing -- they're great! And also for sewing pins, a 'picker upper' gadget, magnetic, in case pins fall on the floor. So maybe I'll use one for screws. (As it is, I no longer use pins very much -- use small sewing clips instead because there's less chance of getting jabbed with one.)

[Daniel Hersh]

I usually work sitting on a carpeted floor - things can't fall if they're already on the ground.

 

Congratulations, Wendy. I hope it works out.

 

Yes, the lesson here is: The ideal surface on which to open a concertina is a solid level tabletop covered by a soft cloth to minimize things rolling around. I once watched in horror as one of my end bolts rolled and dropped between the slats of a rustic wooden picnic table to the tall grass beneath it. AAARGH!! Never again!

[David Barnert]

I have a few small but very strong magnets for keeping screws together. It works for any small steel objects. Also very good for finding them if you DO drop them. No good for plastic etc though.

 

On old concertinas, you want to replace the same screws into the same holes they came out of. Can you keep track of the individual screws using the magnets?

[Patrick McMahon]

 

I have a few small but very strong magnets for keeping screws together. It works for any small steel objects. Also very good for finding them if you DO drop them. No good for plastic etc though.

 

On old concertinas, you want to replace the same screws into the same holes they came out of. Can you keep track of the individual screws using the magnets?

 

No, I wasn't really thinking of concertinas, when I said about the magnets Rather just screws in general.

Having said that, I haven't really bothered with keeping the same screw for the same hole. Unless the screw has the tip missing.

I haven't had a problem, but I can see the logic, and will probably do that in future.

[JimLucas]

I have a few small but very strong magnets for keeping screws together. It works for any small steel objects. Also very good for finding them if you DO drop them. No good for plastic etc though.

 

Not too useful for brass, either, and lots of vintage concertinas have brass end bolts.

[Mike Franch]

I use a stiff piece of paper, on which I've drawn an outline of the concertina (for orientation), with holes punched to hold the screws/bolts. It works very well and is very simple.

[David Barnert]

I use a stiff piece of paper, on which I've drawn an outline of the concertina (for orientation), with holes punched to hold the screws/bolts. It works very well and is very simple.

 

I use an overturned paper cup. I punch 6 holes in the bottom in the shape of a hexagon with my screwdriver and put a scratch mark to represent the location of the label.

[Patrick McMahon]

What actually IS the point of returning a screw to it's original hole?

 

I'm not disputing that it's a good practice, but I'm curious as to why.

[JimLucas]

What actually IS the point of returning a screw to it's original hole?

 

One reason -- though not the only one -- is that some repairer in the past may have replaced one or more bolts (and accompanying nuts) with ones having a slightly different thread, yet close enough that even without excessive force you could damage the threads by screwing a bolt into the wrong nut (hole). Often, shuffling the bolts won't do any harm, but if you make it a consistent practice to prevent a shuffle, then you can be sure not to cause that kind of harm.