Scholer 20 Key Repair

[gunmanbob]

Hi there,

I recently bought a Scholer 20 key concertina from a garage sale for 15 dollars. I am currently fixing it and have gotten the left half to sound well on both the pull and push. The right side has proved difficult however due to the size of the reeds. I am also worried about the fact that the right side seems to have almost no leather valves attached to it. After doing some reading on glues I think I have found one that works but I am having trouble finding leather valves in the lengths I need. Am I able to just buy a larger size and use an exacto knife to trim them? Any other tips on repairs for a beginner or tips for beginners in general would be appreciated. Thanks!

[malcolm clapp]

Gunmanbob, the lack of valves on all but the lowest (largest) reeds of the right hand side is quite normal. Adding them is unnecessary as they will reduce response speed and volume, and only minuscule air saving will be achieved.

[Frank Edgley]

A Scholer was my first concertina. This was before the internet and it seemed impossible to get a concertina. (mid 1970s). I played it for a month or so when one of the reeds broke, No one could fix it, as all the reeds were attached to a reedbank. Even the accordion shop in Windsor could not replace the reed, so it was a couple of years before I found a Bastari. The Scholer was in no key known to Man, anyway. Don't spend a lot of time or effort. Scholers were made in East Germany.

[gunmanbob]

Thank you for the Malcolm for the advice! I am currently still going through and bending each reed so that it will voice properly but am glad to hear I will not need to order more valves. Also this is something of a little hobby so I do not mind putting in the effort, it has been cool to learn a bunch about something I knew nothing about. If anyone has any advice on tuning or otherwise fixing reeds that would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[Roger Hare]

There's a series of short video clips dealing with Scholer 20-button concertinas on YouTube. The first in the series is here. They may help you in your attempts to fix this machine. They may also help identify the key, if that is in doubt.

 

If fixing concertinas is a 'hobby', you could do worse than buy a copy of the Concertina Maintenance Manual by Dave Elliott.

Edited September 22, 2023 by lachenal74693

[gunmanbob]

Thank you for the advice! It has proven hard to find info on such an old instrument so I am glad to see that there is a series about it. I will also see if I can find a copy at my library and if not ill grab a copy. Thanks!