Betty

Thanks everyone, a bit of saving to be done before I do them sadly! What should I be looking at on the gaskets - in fact which bit are they?? The only chamois bits I know of are just behind the ends, showing through the fretwork, and the lining of the reed pans. The lining is a little dodgy in some places - I've done a bit of gluing as a fix for now where bits were sort of collapsing and sliding down the side towards a reed.

Hi, I've just started work on my Wheatstone English and have replaced the valves and springs. I've now got two notes that are not sounding in one direction. I don't think it is anything I have done... does anyone have any troubleshooting tips for trying to sort these out? The next major step is to replace the bellows, which are currently held together with insulation tape mainly. I'm toying with the idea of buying a set and fitting them myself, but I'm a little bit nervous as I don't quite know what it entails. Could anyone give me an idea, so I can see if it is within the skill set of me and my boyfriend? Thanks!

I'm just about to get started on replacing the valves and springs (and one pad) on my wheatstone. What is the best glue to use on this job? I'm trying to be fairly sympathetic in the restoration, but I'm happy to use a different glue, as I presume it would have been animal glue to begin with?

Well, here's an inside picture - sorry it's not particularly clear because the chamois is nicely stuck down http://s1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff429/bettyslippers/?action=view&current=cameradump-tobesorted017.jpg

Thanks everyone! I hadn't considered mahogany, but that sounds a lot more likely than oak for an instrument I think.

Hi, I'm trying to identify the wood of my Wheatstone before looking at how I can best restore it. I had assumed it was rosewood as so many of the cheaper tutors are, but someone else has suggested it might be oak. I haven't a clue, and can't look it up in the ledgers to find out. Here's what it currently looks like - http://s1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff429/bettyslippers/?action=view&current=cameradump-tobesorted021.jpg Any wood experts out there? Thanks! Betty

Hello Pete, yes you do I've got both the finger slides, but no thumb strap brackets, only one of the flat top screws for attaching the straps. I'm missing about 7 screws in all for the furniture I think. The button is broken where the hole is drilled. I'm going to try to superglue it back together before looking for a replacement. At the moment when the concertina is together the button works fine as the wood is stopping it from slipping, but if I held upside down and shook it it would probably come out! I'm going to replace a number of the valves. A few are perished and others are curled - I read this is because it has been stored in the wrong position. I definitely want to replace some springs too. They aren't all original and there's a real mix of rusted ones and ones that are misformed so don't provide the correct resistance. One of the reed pans could do with the chamois being replaced as it has moved and sort of parted like when you pull felt. The reeds all seem to be in tune with each other. I suspect it may not be A440, but for now old pitch doesn't bother me. I've made a description of the condition throughout and a shopping list of parts to buy/jobs to do. I'm looking forward to it!

I've just opened up my Wheatstone and one end has the name 'T Church' stamped about 10 times across the reed pan. Does anyone know anything about the name? I assume it's the person who made this particular instrument, but since I can't trace it on the Wheatstone ledgers because it's in the gap it would be great to know some other history of my box.

Was that the one with the very dirty bellows? I was going to bid on that, but work got in the way! Congratulations - hope you have fun with it! Yes it was - they're beyond help, but I've taped them up a bit for now just so I can see what the reeds are like. We opened it up today. LOTS of pictures here - http://s1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff429/bettyslippers/ Aside from bellows it needs some new springs (probably replace them all), one button has the bottom snapped off, and it needs thumb straps, but that's about it! I've looked up the serial number (21778) but it falls in the period that Horniman haven't got ledgers for. I think it's somewhere around 1893.

Thanks Chris, I've got the book, now to make sense of it all!

My gamble of an eBay purchase has arrived today, and is a Wheatstone! The seller really didn't know what he had, but then neither did I. It certainly needs new bellows, though I may be able to patch the current ones up to make it playable for now. Most of the keys seem sound, though a couple are not very springy. The wood is good. First job is to open it up tonight. I'm going to take photos and see what condition the reeds are in - I don't even know if they're steel or brass yet! I expect I'll be on the repairs thread a lot, and the history one too, but right now I'm just so chuffed to have snagged what I *think* is an absolute bargain. I just hope I don't get a nasty surprise inside! On a side point, the Wheatstone label is very dirty - you can barely make out the name. Anyone got any suggestions for cleaning it up a bit. I want to show off!

Hi, I've got a place on the Fourth Plinth at Trafalgar Square (www.oneandother.co.uk) and I'm going to play my concertina - scared? Me? There isn't any amplification up there, and I'm not sure I'll be able to borrow any. I don't mind buying an amp and mikes as it may well come in handy in the future, but I could do with some advice for what works well with an English concertina. Oh, and not too pricey would be great as well! All feedback positive and negative would be so helpful. Thanks! Betty

Wow that's fantastic. Thanks so much!

I'm eyeing up this English on ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...hlink:middle:uk but I'm worried about the condition of the ends, and the fact they have been reinforced. Any idea whether I would need to repair the ends completely before being able to play it? I think it looks sound, but am not sure. Woodwork is not my forte!

Hi, I'm new to squeezing, and loving it! I bought an old Bastari 30-key EC, and it plays well, but occasionally is a little wheezy, and sometimes the air button has got stuck. I'd really like it to have a service, but obviously don't want to pay a lot of money when it didn't cost much to begin with, and never will be worth a lot. Can anyone point me in the right direction? I'm a bit nervous about trying anything myself at this point in time.

Hi, I've had my Bastari for about a week now, and am having no problems with my pinkies. But, I think my thumb straps are too loose, even though I cannot make them any smaller. How snug or loose should they be? I am getting aching thumbs and wrists and am not sure how much is down to being a newbie, or is in fact due to the straps... Thanks!

Thanks Pete, that looks really helpful. I'll let you know when it arrives. I can't wait! Betty

Hi, I'm brand new to concertinas, though very keen! I have bought a second hand English Bastari, that is currently winging its way to me. It is a 30 button, rather than 48, so I am having trouble working out the fingerings using the normal chart for a 48. Can anyone help? Pictures can be found here: http://img.inkfrog.com/click_enlarge1.php?...mp;aid=37178005 I'm sure this'll be the first of many questions! Thanks! Betty