Rod Pearce

Willie, it would help to know where you are based, and the length of the spring, as they come is different sizes. I assume the spring in the photo only has the end missing which goes into the action board? If not you will need to confirm its length Can you take a photo with the spring alongside a rule. I have a number of spares and can supply a few alternatives to get you back up and running if you are in the UK. No charge!

I would be interested to know how people achieve a consistent 'skive' across the width of the leather using a knife. I use a knife ( the one Theo describes above) with acceptable results to skive the edges of the workpiece, but less success with the rest. Gussets are easier, but trying to get the bindings to a consistent thickness is hit and miss. I don't use a Scharf fix as I cant get on with it. I have to admit that I had my leather thinned by K Baggs Trimming of Poole, Dorset to get a conistent thickness across the hide before I started working with it, so I only had to worry about the edges of each workpiece. Out of interest, do people us the word 'skive' when they mean 'thin'or 'split'?

Is it possible to swap a loud reed with a quieter reed and see if there is any change of volume? If the quieter reed becomes louder, it may point to some of the characteristics of the chamber being the problem. Rod

Do you have a copy of Dave Elliot's Concertina Maintenance manual? It covers these sorts of topics very well.

I assume you are only planning to put the fabric on the inside of the bellows, not the outside. i have used the Tedrow method for making bellows, and used pre-gummed cambric tape for the hinges No messy glues necessary, just lengths of the tape wetted with water. Have you considered trying this? It comes on a roll Gummed Linen Hinging Tape - 25mm x 9M L533-1025 Preservation Equipment Ltd https://www.preservationequipment.com/ Rod

I have just found out that Pittards of Yeovil went into aministration in September and the business is now closed. Very disappointing news as I sourced all my bellows leather from the company and found them very helpful. Rod

See his Ebay listings https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/sandylaneman?_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2559

Typo

Irina Other that Jurgen Suttner, I cannot find anyone else in Germany. How far are you from Molenbeersel/Kinroo, Belgium? In the list linked below there is a maker listed -Harry Guens. Or how contacting one of the UK repairers listed? I don't know if the list is up to date https://www.concertina.info/tina.faq/conc-mak.htm

To post an image, open the reply box, and drag your image to it by left-clicking on it in the folder it is stored in without taking your finger off, and let go of the mouse button to drop it in the message. Or use the .Choose files. link on the screen. Hope this makes sense.

Mike I bought this bushing felt, sold by the Piano Accessory Shop, I went for the 0.85mm thickness. https://www.pianoaccessoryshop.co.uk/product/bushing-cloth-strips-0-85mm-1-8mm-for-flange-keys/ Currently priced on their website for £15.95 – £17.95 Description Strip of Red Bushing Cloth for for flanges and key bushing in grand and upright pianos Colour: Red Size of set: 75 mm X 915 mm Thickness and Application: 0.8mm – Flange 1.00mm – Flange 1.3mm – Flange/ Key 1.5mm – Key 1.8mm – Key Rod

Am I missing something here? In my experience the screw that holds the thumbstrap in place on an English locates inside a wooden pillar between the end and the action board. So I would have expected that to have failed and either need to be removed / replaced, or plugged. If the pillar is still glued to the action board, I would fashion a thin plug from something like a cocktail stick and glue it into the hole in the pillar.The thumbstrap screw would them fit snugly inside again. If the pillar itself has failed replace it or re-glue it.

The restoration of the instrument doesn't phase me, but the reeds look pretty bad. Are they Brass frames with steel tongues? Are they salvageable? Rod

Clive I think the instrument deserves a chance, so I am intending to rebuild it. All the pieces are there, if I can remove the rusted screws from the ends! I believe some of the reeds can be saved so I intend to reuse them if possible, but I will need to find a number of replacements, brass this time!

Stephen In addition to my original post, the description of 189665 you have is correct - spindle cut, 5 fold bellows. If by 'full' you mean solid ends. that would also appear to be correct. I attach some pictures of the ends and bellows in the condition I received the instrument. The bellows were too far gone and have since been discarded. I have almost finished de-rusting the reeds - about 7 or 8 have tongues that are rusted through or have already broken and most of the frames have been pitted by the rust. Its too early to say how many can be saved for re-use, but I would guess less than half. Good luck with your exercise. Best regards Rod