Pinky/thumb rest screws - where to find?

[fatt_mazio]

It seems that, throughout the many years of its existence, there have been many attempts to do repairs to my instrument. With that, the screws into the pinky and thumb rests have become quite stripped, and to avoid the risk of forever being "locked out", I'd like to replace them. Does anyone have a recommendation on where to find these little buggers? Hardware stores? Art shops? Online? I've looked a little to no avail, but would like to find them locally (US) and grab them in person. Much thanks!

[Devils' Dream]

Try Craft Inc. in N. Attleboro MA.

[4to5to6]

I had to get these long, very thin screws directly from Steve Dickinson at Wheatstone.

[Chris Ghent]

There was a bloke called Old Nickelodeon (edited to add, I remember, it was Old Nickelby) or something close to that on this forum who had a lot and was handing them out about 5 years ago.  
 

Something to consider is the screw itself is unlikely to have lost its thread, and the problem is actually the wood it screws into has been chewed out (though sometimes the screw head has been damaged by the same issues that chewed out the wood, usually a heavy handed user thinking that tightening the screw is the solution to all problems). This means a replacement screw will also not lock up in the wood. The solution is a slightly larger screw, which may look oversize at the head and protrude too much, or repairing the wood. You could try a sliver of wood in the hole before putting the screw in, not terribly elegant but kept many things working in the old days, or drilling the place the screw goes in and turning a wood plug to glue in to the hole.  
 

Very important to use a screwdriver that fits the screw perfectly with these tiny heads. 

Edited August 14 by Chris Ghent

[fatt_mazio]

Thanks for the responses, everyone. I've been on the lookout around town and was unable to find any store that had these or end bolts, and I checked about everywhere, from arts and craft, to hardware, to gun stores, to no avail.

On 8/7/2023 at 7:39 AM, Devils' Dream said:

Try Craft Inc. in N. Attleboro MA.

 

I just looked at their supply and unfortunately it looks like the screws they stock aren't quite the right length; it looks like maybe a #1 screw, but an inch long. Maybe someone else has some...

 

On 8/12/2023 at 9:03 AM, 4to5to6 said:

I had to get these long, very thin screws directly from Steve Dickinson at Wheatstone.

 

I'm afraid I might need to go this route, so perhaps I can purchase some other wares from him to make it worth the shipping across the pond.

 

On 8/13/2023 at 4:27 PM, Chris Ghent said:

There was a bloke called Old Nickelodeon (edited to add, I remember, it was Old Nickelby) or something close to that on this forum who had a lot and was handing them out about 5 years ago.  
 

Something to consider is the screw itself is unlikely to have lost its thread, and the problem is actually the wood it screws into has been chewed out (though sometimes the screw head has been damaged by the same issues that chewed out the wood, usually a heavy handed user thinking that tightening the screw is the solution to all problems). This means a replacement screw will also not lock up in the wood. The solution is a slightly larger screw, which may look oversize at the head and protrude too much, or repairing the wood. You could try a sliver of wood in the hole before putting the screw in, not terribly elegant but kept many things working in the old days, or drilling the place the screw goes in and turning a wood plug to glue in to the hole.  
 

Very important to use a screwdriver that fits the screw perfectly with these tiny heads. 

 

I wish I had started playing earlier then! It's not so much an issue with the thread, like you say, nor the screw hole, but the head of the screw. I had read previously about the matchstick trick, but it will stay a trick until mine starts stripping out the screw hole.

[Geoff Wooff]

I  had  to  take  an  accordeon  appart  today  to  fix  a  sticky  key  and  was looking  at  some  tiny  wood screws  that  had  to  be  removed.  These  were  not  dissimilar  to  those   used on  concertinas  for  the Pinky  Rest  and  Thumb strap  fixings.  A  few years  ago  I  rounded up  a few  screws  from  a  large  dead  accordeon  and  I  am thinking, if  you  have an  accordion  repair  shop  in your  region  it  might  be  worth  asking  if  they  have  screws of  a suitable  size.

 

Another point;   on  metal  ended  EC's  those  tiny  screws  are  often  threaded  into  hard  leather  blocks  on the  underside of the  end plates....  perhaps  for  a  wooden  ended  instrument  a slightly  longer  screw  with  these  leather  'nut's  might  be  a suitable  fix.

 

Third point:  I  see that  some  people  have  replaced  those  tiny  screws  with  Bifurcatted  Rivetts.

Edited August 19 by Geoff Wooff

[4to5to6]

I do have a few spare new long screws if you can’t find them.  I tend to be selfish and hoard such items like this so it would be good for me to give up a few.  Please PM me.

[fatt_mazio]

Geoff: thanks for the pro-tip. I actually do have an accordion repairman nearby, so that will be good to know for the future. Also, in regards to the bifurcated rivets, do you know where they are purchasing these and if any other modifications need be done?

 

And 4to5to6, I sent you a PM, though I could likewise purchase them from Steve Dickinson, it sounds like.

 

 

[Geoff Wooff]

fatt_mazio,

I am  not  quite  sure  where  to  buy  the  bifurcated  rivets,  a  kind  person  did  send  me  some  a few years  ago.  They  come, of  course,  in  different  sizes  but  you  can  see them  in use  here ;  look  at  the  very  recent  post  on  the  Buy  & Sell  forum  by  'Pavel'   ,  the photos  show  extensive  use of  those  rivets.

[4to5to6]

Where are you located?  Here's one source with many different sizes:

 

Split Rivets | Bifurcated Rivets | Self-Piercing Rivets | Jay-Cee Sales & Rivet, Inc. (rivetsonline.com)

 

[Geoff Wooff]

4 hours ago, 4to5to6 said:

Where are you located?  Here's one source with many different sizes:

 

Split Rivets | Bifurcated Rivets | Self-Piercing Rivets | Jay-Cee Sales & Rivet, Inc. (rivetsonline.com)

 

In  France.   Very  interesting store.

 

[Stephen Chambers]

On 8/17/2023 at 1:03 AM, fatt_mazio said:

... it looks like maybe a #1 screw, but an inch long. Maybe someone else has some...

 

Yes, the original long screws were 1" No.1 in size, but (the trouble is that) they haven't been made since the mid-1920s and they're unbelievably rare today.

 

Hence I'm very glad that I've still got a few 1" No.2s left out of a box (a lifetime's supply of them) that I was lucky-enough to find nearly 50 years ago!