Bill N Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 I received a kit from Concertina Spares today to make new thumb straps for a Lachenal English, but it did not come with the promised "down loadable instructions", and I see that Mark has shut down his e-mail and telephone for a few weeks while he catches up on his backlog of work. The instructions in Dave Elliott's book won't work as his design requires about twice the length of leather supplied in the kit, and there's not enough left of the existing straps to make a pattern from. Having already waited a considerable time for the order to arrive, I am keen to get to work. Can anyone here who has used the kit offer any insight? For each strap I have been provided with a 2 3/4" x 7" rectangle of thin leather, a 6 3/8" length of 1" linen tape, and a 1" x 2 1/2" rectangle of felt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Pearce Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 Bill have made 2 sets of straps from the kit, and still have the CD with the instructions on. I can send you the files by PM later. There a 4 files on the CD, the larget being 9mb. Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill N Posted May 15, 2019 Author Share Posted May 15, 2019 Brilliant! Thanks very much Rod. This is a good rainy day project, and we have cool and wet in the forecast for a good long stretch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill N Posted May 17, 2019 Author Share Posted May 17, 2019 Thanks again Rod, they turned out pretty well. I don't think I would have figured it out without the instructions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Pearce Posted May 17, 2019 Share Posted May 17, 2019 No problem Bill. Glad to be of assistance. Best regards Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Posted May 18, 2019 Share Posted May 18, 2019 9 hours ago, Bill N said: What is this concertina you're working on? Are these glass buttons? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill N Posted May 18, 2019 Author Share Posted May 18, 2019 It's a 48 button Lachenal English, serial # 6915. Dowright has dated it c. 1860. 48 glass buttons, brass reeds, beautifully figured rosewood ends with brass inlays at the corners, and gold embossed green bellows and thumb-straps. It was found in an attic in British Columbia, Canada by the new owner of an old house, so no ownership history to go with it I'm afraid. It's in remarkably good condition- pads, valves, seals, reeds, pad boards and reed pans all look new, and the ends are in excellent condition. One fold of the bellows is damaged, the thumb-straps need replacing, and the glue holding the action box together has dried out. I'll be doing a careful, minimal restoration for a friend who is currently playing a Stagi .(I'm an Anglo player- can't make heads-nor-tails of an English) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Posted May 18, 2019 Share Posted May 18, 2019 Nice! Good luck with this project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf Molkentin Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 I think it’s what we call an „Inimitable“, with the extra of glass buttons (and maybe more)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titch Posted March 8, 2020 Share Posted March 8, 2020 Hi I am new to the forum but am looking for help. I have been 'googling' how to make thumb straps for an English concertina and came across this old thread started by Bill. I am afraid I have exactly the same issue....I have the kit from concertinaspares but no instructions and the kit (which looks the same as Bills ) bears no resemblance to the size/shape use by Dave Elliot in his book. If anyone still has any instructions or advice on how I create the thumb straps I would really appreciate it. Many thanks in hopeful anticipation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill N Posted March 8, 2020 Author Share Posted March 8, 2020 Someone sent me instructions, which I know I have around here somewhere. I'll have a look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill N Posted March 8, 2020 Author Share Posted March 8, 2020 Found them. PM me your e-mail address and I'll send you a PDF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d.elliott Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 It is one of the named Lachenal models, as Wolf says an 'inimitable' Easy identification markers: the Paragon was rosewood flat ended with no inlays the Inimitable was rosewood flt ended with inlays the Excelsior was ebony flat ended with inlays the Nonpareil was amboyna veneer flat ended with inlays, The new model had raised ends and was usually ebony finished Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now