Barry Swanson Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 Hi, are there any books that deal with concertina repairs and maintenance ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Swanson Posted July 3, 2020 Author Share Posted July 3, 2020 Since posting the above question , I have found David Elliots book for sale on line ...but I have also asked myself , should I even be contemplating restoration on my first ever concertina, which I am just been reliably informed is a 21 key Lachenal , I am a reasonably competent tinker - mechanic (Brit Bikes), so I suppose I am wanting some guidance about the job a competent amateur might do and the job a Pro would do . Which leads to another question, 'are there any restorers here in New Zealand ? I would only be doing pads, valves and bushes, and there is a small leak in one of the bellows corners... reed work ? no . I've just read there are restorers over the ditch in Oz , what might I expect to pay for a freshen up ? thanks Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Taylor Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 All of your questions are answered in Dave's book - which every concertina player should own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milesy Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 I agree with Don - every player should have a copy of David's book. Basic care & maintenance is not challenging for anyone with basic competence in "tinkering". There are a few things to remember, but David's book covers the lot. Happy to share a few tips if you'd like to email me: richard.miles@westnet.com.au . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klandfors Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 I purchased the book from Hobgoblin. It shipped from UK to US in reasonable time. As a tinkerer, just the description of how the instrument works will make it well worth the price for you. Dave did a great job with this book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex West Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 Remembering back to the first restoration I did, I gave up in frustration that what I did just didn't seem to work. I was using Dave's book, but the buttons continued to stick and in the end I passed the job on to a professional. The lesson I learned was that it was me that was at fault, not Dave's book! You have to follow Dave's guidance extremely carefully, make sure you have decent materials, establish a procedure for yourself and learn (or acquire) a large dose of patience. Once I learned to take my time and accomplish the task correctly, I managed several successful repairs and complete restoration. Inevitably (and it still happens), if I try to do things to a deadline, I end up having to repeat or restart. Alex West Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Edgley Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 A very significant book. Recommended! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d.elliott Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 Thanks everyone for the book recommendations, one thing I would add: part of the purpose behind the book was to let people know what they were getting into before they pick up the screwdriver. To allow people to judge their own capabilities with respect to what they are taking on. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Swanson Posted July 3, 2020 Author Share Posted July 3, 2020 Thanks everyone for your thoughts...I am now putting an order together including your book Dave...Bazza. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Swanson Posted July 5, 2020 Author Share Posted July 5, 2020 ...and are there any Kiwi restorers , or are they extinct like our great flightless bird the Moa ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Ghent Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 If you can keep a Brit bike on the road over a long period you can handle anything in a concertina. Patience is the key. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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