Flutina Bellows

[AndyG]

Greetings group,

 

I have a free reed instrument of approx 1850s called a flutina. I would like to restore it to a functioning state, and as close to original in detail as I can. Most of the work I believe I can do (pads, springs, reeds, wood, etc.), however the paper bellows have disintegrated. The most I can expect from them is to see the pattern of their construction, attachment, and artistic pattern/design (motif). The bellows are basically a rectangle ~9" X 4" having 6 folds.

 

Could anyone please help me with construction advice? I had planed on getting paper (cloth fiber threaded) from Sullivan (as close to period as possible) and perhaps having the pattern printed or painted onto it. God has given me the hands, and attention to detail to allow me to do many things, however I have not built bellows before. I have done some limited repairs to concertina bellows, but that is it. I don't know what glues to use, how to cut the cardboard pieces, cut and fit the gussets, etc. Do I need to build a jig? In some ways it would seem to me that paper/cardboard bellows would be easier than leather, but I don't know.

 

Would some of you please help me with this, or tell me how I can go about doing this?

 

Thank you in advance.

God bless you

Andy Gelfert

[Chris Timson]

It might be worth contacting the melodeon maker Peter Hyde. He makes a modern version of the flutina, and has done some research on his way to achieving this. He may be able to help. Contact him via the query form on his web site here.

 

Chris

[Theo]

Bookbinders sell a variety of fancy papers, including a range of historical patterns that wood look good on bellows. I have a catalogue for Shepherds www.bookbinding.co.uk. The original makers of the flutina bellows probably used bookbinders supplies.

 

Good luck with the project.

 

Theo

[Stephen Chambers]

The original makers of the flutina bellows probably used bookbinders supplies.

Indeed, the original makers of concertina bellows were bookbinders ! The bellows of early instruments have sharp, folded-over corners (like a leather-bound book) and are known as "bookbinder bellows.

 

Flutina bellows were made using the same techniques as concertina bellows, or perhaps it would be more correct to say that both have bellows like those of Demian's Accordion, from which they mutually derive.