LesJessop Posted Sunday at 04:55 PM Posted Sunday at 04:55 PM The 32-button Lachenal (made c. 1860) I recently posted had no thumb straps, so I've started making replacements. I've sourced most of the materials, the only problem being the screws holding the straps to the ends: each strap needs two 1/4" #1 gauge screws and one 1" #1 gauge screw. I bought the small screws from the Vintage Screw Company, but they could not supply the long screws. I sent e-mails to Concertina Spares and to Steve Dickinson, but got no answers. A search of the internet has turned up a seller who has 25 mm #2 screws, but I hesitate to use bigger screws. Maybe if I was an engineer and had a lathe I could make my own, but I'm not, I don't and I can't ! Do any of the members have two spare screws (maybe from 'breakers') they could supply me with ? Or alternatively, make helpful suggestions as to a solution.
Lappy Posted Sunday at 08:51 PM Posted Sunday at 08:51 PM Have you tried repair@squeezeboxgarage.com ?
alex_holden Posted Monday at 05:11 AM Posted Monday at 05:11 AM AFAIK those screws haven't been made for decades and are like hen's teeth now.
LesJessop Posted Monday at 09:13 AM Author Posted Monday at 09:13 AM The owner of the Vintage Screw Company made a similar comment about the rarity. I've just looked at the squeezebox garage website, where I see "We CANNOT supply the long pinky-rest and thumb-strap screws for English concertinas". So, I guess they must get a lot of people asking about them !
alex_holden Posted Monday at 09:29 AM Posted Monday at 09:29 AM I have in the past used a modern metric machine screw that was about the right diameter and the same head style but shorter, and glued a threaded insert into the support post for it to screw into. I turned the inserts myself from brass rod but you might be able to buy them because people often use them to add threaded holes to plastic 3D prints. Not original but it worked and didn't look obviously wrong. I think I also screwed the support post to the action board so it wasn't relying on just the glue joint.
Theo Posted Monday at 09:35 AM Posted Monday at 09:35 AM This UK supplier has No2 x 1" in brass which will do the job. https://www.screwsline.co.uk/product/wood_screws/brass/countersunk_head/slotted/?id=1484
Clive Thorne Posted Monday at 11:43 PM Posted Monday at 11:43 PM 14 hours ago, alex_holden said: I have in the past used a modern metric machine screw that was about the right diameter and the same head style but shorter, and glued a threaded insert into the support post for it to screw into. I turned the inserts myself from brass rod but you might be able to buy them because people often use them to add threaded holes to plastic 3D prints. Not original but it worked and didn't look obviously wrong. I think I also screwed the support post to the action board so it wasn't relying on just the glue joint. An alternative source is to buy nylon&brass PCB Supports of required thread (mainly metric, but some UNC in the states? Then hack the nylon off, and you're left with the (knurled) brass inserts. Ideal for pressing into a suitable hole with a bit of glue.
LesJessop Posted Tuesday at 08:12 AM Author Posted Tuesday at 08:12 AM Many thanks for these suggestions. I had seen that some firms offer shorter #1 gauge screws, but it did not occur to me to extend the support post. As a first step I've ordered some 1" #2 screws, and will decide which route to follow once I've seen them.
Nigel Champion Posted 19 hours ago Posted 19 hours ago This thread reminds me of a fine concertina player/repairer, Harold Green, here in New Zealand a few decades ago. His day job was as an industrial lathe operater. He was asked on his retirement what farewell gift he'd appreciate most. He asked for the lathe he'd been using and they agreed. He kept the monstrous beast in his garage purely for turning out these 1g screws and concertina end-bolts!!! 1
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