Thumb strap screws

[LesJessop]

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]

Have you tried 

 repair@squeezeboxgarage.com  ?

 

[alex_holden]

AFAIK those screws haven't been made for decades and are like hen's teeth now.

[LesJessop]

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]

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]

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