Wheatstone Aeola restoration

[chris salty-dog vonderborch]

I am beginning the job of restoring a c.1905 Aeola, which has a magnificent set of reeds and reed-pans. I want to do a careful and responsible job on this antique instrument. A fair amount of ebony-work is required, apart from other stuff!

 

So I have soaked the old bellows and separated the components. I found some interesting things. For example, the "top-runs" are composed of 2 layers of thin leather, not the usual (in most concertinas) single layer. Is that normal for the Aeola?

 

And of course, the bellows are austere black all over; no fancy bellows papers; rather funereal, but I guess that was how the Aeolas were designed.

 

So I guess I should make the new bellows the same; would others agree?

 

The raised metal ends are in good shape, but need a re-plate. I think I will clean them up with wet/dry emery and steel wool before having them re-plated. I guess it should be nickle-plating. I did have the ends of one concertina that I made silver plated, with a special baked-on protective coating which has survived well. What would the forum think of that??

 

Ideas gratefully received. I do want to do justice to the instrument!