Elastic band

[mathhag]

When I first got a Concertina I was at NESI . The gentleman from the Button Box explained I should not leave my Concertina just out on the table. He said it was important to leave the bellows closed. So he said I should leave it in the case or get a band to keep it closed. At the time I figured I would always keep it in the case. 

But now it want to practice more shorter sessions during the day so having it out would keep encouraging me to pick it back up.

Could anyone describe what a “band” should look like, how it is made? A picture?

[Wolf Molkentin]

I would suggest a sealing ring or similar, however some fellow concertinists doubt the necessity of keeping the bellows closed - has been debated lately.

 

Best wishes - 🐺

[Ken_Coles]

I went to the sewing shop and got a few feet of velcro. Cut a piece long enough to go round the bellows a bit more than once, and voila! (or viola! if you are also a string player) That is what Doug (who you most likely spoke to) at the BBox does with his concertinas on display. I do this for all my modern instruments/old instruments with new bellows. On an old thread here somewhere, Dana Johnson explained the reasons new bellows should be compressed when not in use, and I certainly respect his reasoning. Once bellows are 100 years old or so the memory is pretty well set and compression is less of a concern, so you may omit the strap at that point.  😎

 

Ken

[Wolf Molkentin]

Just to give you the reference (there would be another one, but with similar content):

 

 

[Devils' Dream]

½ or ¾" web available at your outdoor store plus 2 or 3 inches of velco and amateur sewing (!).  Make sure the width fits between the buttons.  Total cost = $1.  Total time 10 minutes.

[Don Taylor]

I have made the same thing (webbing plus a bit of velcro).  The webbing is a lot softer than velcro all the way round.

 

Plus, it is much easier to get the concertina out of its case by lifting it by its strap.

[mathhag]

So here is what I ended up doing. Works great.

 

[Devils' Dream]

It is all velcro?  If yes, did you try it the other way round?

[mathhag]

Not sure what you mean by other way around but I put the soft side toward the concertina. I may look for some pretty ribbon and sew Velcro closings. 

[d.elliott]

I ship concertinas and hold them using 'X' bands, 

 

Laufer 0515198 X-Bands Size 150 x 11mm, 100mm Diameter - 100g Box

[lachenal74693]

I use a suitable length of bungee cord tied into a loop. Use a good knot though - I recommend a double sheet bend.

[Anglo-Irishman]

The topic heading reminds me of a joke I heard at school (long, long ago):

 

"I say, a friend of mine has invented a rubber trumpet!"

"Why's that?"

"So that he can play in one of those elastic bands ..."

 

Cheers,

John

[Devils' Dream]

D.E.

How long do the elastic bands last when re-used? Few months, few weeks?

[Leonard]

On 12/6/2018 at 9:36 AM, Anglo-Irishman said:

....

"So that he can play in one of those elastic bands ..."