hielandman

I think Richard, the best thing you could do with this is to make a video of you making a bellows, and include (of course) all the necessary dialogue to explain everything you are doing and why. To do it right you might want to hire a pro-video team, and that would cost some money, but I think a number of people out there might be interested in contributing some money to help the process along. Watching you work would be a whole lot more helpfull than observing still photos. I for one would make a donation, I'm sure there are others. Then when all is said and done, the donors receive a free copy of the instructional video, and you hold the rights for marketing, of which I'm sure there is a market for you to sell them. What do you think, concertina folks? Are you willing to throw in a hundred bucks each (or whatever) to fund a video project? Think about it........

Hellol. Several months ago I purchase a concertina on Ebay which had a label on it which said "Metzler", but from the photos I new to be a Lachenal, a 20 button Anglo. The seller said in his ad that since he did not own a screwdriver of a suffieceintly small size, he was unable to determine whether the reeds were brass or steel, as he had no means of removing the ends. When it came it was definately a Lachenal, as I thought, and seemed to be in pretty good condition, excepting the straps, and the valves seem to need replaceing, but everything else seems to be there. But when I attempted to remove the endbolts, well................I discovered the real reason why this person didn't know what the reeds were made of, the end bolts are frozen in place! I managed to extract two, but all the others would not turn, and I ended up breakin off their heads, which I thought would allow me to remove the ends, but there I was wrong, the end bolts seem to be fused with the wood they pass through. I tried prying up with knives, tried adding a few drops of water, and even added WD-40, to try to get the bolts free of the wood. Does anyone know what may have caused this, and how to cure it? I managed to pull one of the threaded brass insert out of its place by trying to force the end up! I don't want to make it any worse, it at all possible. I would appreciate any thoughts on the matter, thanks, Hielandman

If anyone out there has ever gone to the Martin Guitar factory, in Nazareth Pa., they will tell you of the smell of Rosewood dust, which actually smells quite nice! I've been on tours a number of times over the years, and I don't recall anyone sneezing, but that dosen't mean they weren't on the previous, or next tour!

Theo is correct, that mig wire if coated is mild steel, and would not be good for spring wire. McMaster-Carr should sell spring wire that you can do the job with. Also, in a pinch, it was pointed out to me that .035 Stainless steel tig wire will suffice for a time, though again, it is not tempered, it just acts that way! Go to your local welding supply store, and ask for one piece, as a sample, or buy a one pound spool. But you are better off going to an industrial supply store that carries spring wire. Good luck, and have fun!

sorry folks, the parts have left these shores for a new home in the U.K! thanks for all your questions, and the friends I have made because of this posting, take care, hielandman!

There are two things that you can do so you can get an idea. The first is to go on ebay, and do a search of completed items that are similar, that should put you in the ball park(I keep reminding myself that the Mets traded Nolan Ryan and a bunch of minor league stars for Jim Fregosi in the fall of 1970, stop reminding me, PLEASE!), oh, where was I............you could also look under sports memorabilia, and other collectibles. The next thing you could do is to call Aldo, at Bell-Duovox accordians in Valley Cottage, N.Y.(845 are code, can't find the number right now), he deals with a lot of high end kind of stuff like that, he may be able to help. Good luck.

Very good advice!

I have for sale an interesting box of concertina parts I acquired from Mr Stinson Behlen of Slaton Texas about 2 years ago(does anyone know if he is still alive?) It contains 3 sets of mechanisms, quite a few springs, some buttons, and a pile of german reed plates, keys unknown. All these parts seem to be for German and Italian concertinas. I am asking $110.00, post paid and insured. I will also include a copy of the letter stinson sent me with this, it is a hoot! Thanks. I may put this on ebay, but if I sell it there, I will contribute to this site anyway, it is a cool place to be! I went through the reed plates, and noticed there are 18 complete plates and four partial ones. Some plates are aluminum(most) some zinc or steel, but ALL reeds are brass, thanks for looking.

I sent the same seller an email stating that this concertina was in fact not a lachenal at all, based on all the obvious reasons(wooden levers, wrong fretwork, etc...) and never had a reply from him. However, I don't think he is being deliberately misleading, I just think that the name Lachenal is all he knows when it comes to old concertinas. I bought a lachenal from him that he said was a "Metzler", which I know to be a Lachenal, so I don't think he was deliberately being misleading, I just think he is uninformed, or ignorant, or whatever, as are a lot of antique dealers. and others that are into estate auctions, and the like. In any event, it was a cool concertina(and I have many old german concertinas that are cool), so can we lighten up a bit? Thanks, and keep squeezin, DS