d.elliott

I had long discussions with Doug at BB, he will advise, sell you tools that don't require de-waxing etc. I seem to remember he had a video clip too. Talk to Doug, or email him at the BB

If the instrument has been sat, un-played for 20 odd years, the valves will have probably hardened and if it was stored in a box/ bag that stood the instalment with the bellows axis vertical then some of the valves will have probably curled as well as hardened, I would look at a full re- valve as a matter of principle. Dave

agreed, completely agreed

Sometimes it's a bit like tuning baking foil, especially on piccolo concertinas

I am not aware of anyone making or selling these caps, I would suggest you make some wooden bits just to get you going. Delrin/ Nylon I don't think will glue very well.

You will spot that the reeds are clamped into place so that reeds were removable for ease of maintenance. At the time the may fair was being developed virtually all concertinas had access to reeds on bellows pull and push, the waxed construction does not permit this. The extended chamois on chamber walls and indeed the extra chambers would indicate that the jigging was probably intended to be versatile, different numbers of keys & layouts etc. Dave

Might also be a good idea to check the tuning on the upper notes. I have repeatedly found that when instruments were re-pitched from old to modern concert pitch, some tuners either ignored the upper octave or so or only rough tuned them. They can sound really odd and would make life difficult for you.

If corners are collapsed/ collapsing then please check the condition of the inner bellows hinges, if they are split you may have a bigger problem. If they are repaired then you have an explanation, split hinges are easy to repair, but to consequential damage may be less so.

could be a basic leather baffle would do the job, but probably at the cost of the projection from all the other reeds. I would try the following: move the reed to a different position to see if the harshness migrates (as suggested above) if the tone moves with the reed, check the reed set or replace the reed. if the problem is the location then check the the length of the chamber, try fitting a temporary chamber end stop, to shorten the chamber, or removing the end stop and fitting another on a bit further from the reed tip

don't forget to clean the bellows out after or in a fast session I can see rice seeds bouncing off the walls

If I get unsavoury pop up adds I would probably be saying goodbye to all the rest of you.

Be warned, I worked a lot in the rosewoods at one time, especially Indian rosewood, you need a dust mask, preferably extraction. Some dusts are carcinogenic.

Well said Jim, I have nothing but respect for Greg, even if I cannot pronounce his surname.

Thanks Paul.# $54 a copy, I wish.....!

I have been using it for years for valves and also chamois gaskets. If you use impact adhesives or some others then it is difficult to remove when next servicing is required.