jtmchorse Posted Wednesday at 08:20 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 08:20 PM Hi, I wanted to drop a note and say hello. I'm new here and brand new to the concertina, like others before me I found an old used concertina on ebay and am now in the process of futzing about with it. One of the buttons was sticky so I took it apart, and the red stamp is the only marking I've found so far. I've yet to get the reed pans out though, perhaps there is something under there. I've been learning to play the fiddle since the beginning of the year, and wanted to pick up another instrument to deepen my understanding of a tune, I guess the tin whistle wasn't quite good enough and here we are.. Anyway, looking forward to digging into this and slowly gaining some skills over some time. Oh and I'm in Spokane if anyone else is from eastern Washington. Cheers, JT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_Hardy Posted yesterday at 08:18 AM Share Posted yesterday at 08:18 AM 11 hours ago, jtmchorse said: .I've yet to get the reed pans out though, perhaps there is something under there. Put thumb through the hole in the reedpan, curl and pull. They are just push fit, but may not have been removed in decades, so often stiff. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Barnert Posted yesterday at 10:14 AM Share Posted yesterday at 10:14 AM 13 hours ago, jtmchorse said: One of the buttons was sticky so I took it apart, and the red stamp is the only marking I've found so far. I've yet to get the reed pans out though, perhaps there is something under there. What Paul said. But you won’t find the explanation to a stuck button under there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo Posted yesterday at 01:37 PM Share Posted yesterday at 01:37 PM "Stuck button" can describe several different malfunctions. Such as: button won't push down, button won't return, note is silent, or note sounding all the time. Can you provide more detail please? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtmchorse Posted yesterday at 03:01 PM Author Share Posted yesterday at 03:01 PM 1 hour ago, Theo said: "Stuck button" can describe several different malfunctions. Such as: button won't push down, button won't return, note is silent, or note sounding all the time. Can you provide more detail please? Oh yeah sure, that makes sense. One of the black buttons on the left side was stuck open. When I removed the cover the little metal wedge piece stuck into the wood had come lose, so I pushed it back in and made sure the lever & spring action worked, that is to say made they it moved and the pad came up and went down. Currently the box makes musical noises. I might try to get some derlin rod and make new buttons on my lathe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Barnert Posted yesterday at 03:33 PM Share Posted yesterday at 03:33 PM 24 minutes ago, jtmchorse said: I might try to get some derlin rod and make new buttons on my lathe. Are you aware that there’s an excellent source of concertina buttons, as well as other spare parts, cases, and all things concertina a half hour drive from Spokane at The Concertina Connection? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtmchorse Posted yesterday at 04:42 PM Author Share Posted yesterday at 04:42 PM I was aware that Wakker was just a little ways outside of town! I wasn't aware that spare buttons were available from them though. I'll have to see if I can make a trip out there to grab some parts and maybe even some advice on the box itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d.elliott Posted yesterday at 07:29 PM Share Posted yesterday at 07:29 PM Looking at the photo of the RH side fretwork, this instrument has the hallmarks of a good quality instrument, rosewood ends, fine grade fretting and moulding around the edges. The buttons are bone, This could probably have been an option on ordering, metal buttons etc, were not always a preferred option - especially those with flat tops. I would not spoil the instrument with 'plastic' buttons to no advantage. The instrument is fitted with 6 fold bellows, again an indicator of quality. Looking at the picture It looks like you are going to need to replace the bellows, the bellows, like pads (which also seem life expired) and valves are all consumable items, like tyres, oil filters, sparkplugs etc. on a car. They all have a life, and whilst they all make up to a functioning car, changing them makes the car perform better an is more saleable. I would expect to have to replace: pads, valves, bellows, some felt work in the keys, I would also expect to have to get some springs as well. A final thought, I can see a pile of end bolts, it is generally a good idea to put bolts back in the position they came from, just commenting... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo Posted yesterday at 08:09 PM Share Posted yesterday at 08:09 PM (edited) I wouldn’t replace the buttons either. Plastic will be totally out of keeping with the rest of the instrument. You can make much more useful improvements by renewing the parts that have deteriorated- pads, button bushings, valves, and secure the thumb straps. Edited yesterday at 08:10 PM by Theo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtmchorse Posted yesterday at 09:26 PM Author Share Posted yesterday at 09:26 PM @d.elliott & @Theo Thanks for the input on the instrument itself. I was under the impression it was a bit more of the "student" type model, with the red coloring for the C notes. Perhaps its worth saving up and taking it over to Wakker for some professional attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dabbler Posted 23 hours ago Share Posted 23 hours ago If you decide to work on it yourself, make sure you grab a copy of D. Elliott's book. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lachenal74693 Posted 17 hours ago Share Posted 17 hours ago 5 hours ago, dabbler said: If you decide to work on it yourself, make sure you grab a copy of D. Elliott's book. Seconded! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lachenal74693 Posted 5 hours ago Share Posted 5 hours ago 12 hours ago, lachenal74693 said: Seconded! I'll add - if you do buy a copy of this book, buy direct from Dave Elliot: http://www.concertina-repair.org.uk/ The direct price looks to be much lower than the prices being asked on A*mazon, etc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtmchorse Posted 56 minutes ago Author Share Posted 56 minutes ago @lachenal74693really appreciate the link to non amazon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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