Care And Feeding?

[MUTT]

I feel a bit foolish posting this, because I suspect what I want is right under my nose, but here goes.

 

Having a new concertina in the house, I really want to take care of it. Aside from the very brief list of "don'ts" that came with it (don't get it wet, don't get it hot, don't oil the bellows), I'm not finding much info, either here or on the net.

 

I swear I read a thread recently on this topic, but I can't seem to find it, now. Anybody out there have a link handy? I've done the search engine, but no go.

 

Isn't there an article posted on concertina dot net on this topic? Have I simply overlooked it?

 

For starters, I just want to keep the thing clean. I keep it in it's case, and I wipe it down with a clean cotton hanky after I've played, but I still notice the finish is dulling around the buttons. What more can I do?

 

I've got a Morse Albion, it's wonderful, and I want to do right by it.

[Pam B]

You might want to try The Concertina Maintenance Manual: A guide to the repair and maintenance of all types of concertina by Dave Elliott. It probably has way more information than you are looking for, but it does include Routine Maintenance.

 

 

 

Enjoy your new box!

[Ken_Coles]

The Morse is a very durable design and as such doesn't need a lot of attention. About all the routine Maint. I've done on mine is to dust off the bellows (a small - unused! - artist's brush works well) so the dust doesn't achieve oneness with the bellows.

 

Most concertina experts will tell you that even all-leather bellows last longer if you _don't_ oil or treat them, and I have several century-old instruments whose bellows are just fine, thank you.

 

Have fun, too!

 

Ken

[McIsog]

All things in moderation -

 

the half full recipe:

 

Do keep it dry; Do keep it cool and out of direct sun; Do keep people from using it in Newtonian experiments (think apples and gravity 8-) ); Do keep it from getting musty - playing it is good for this; Do keep it away from cooks whom may want to put it in the soup or stew.

 

Have fun with it whatever you do.

Cheers,

Dan

[Jim Stetson]

I use a soft drafter's brush to keep dust off my bellows. I also resist the temptation to do what this guy is doing in the first 40 seconds of the following clip:

[Christian Husmann]

I use a soft drafter's brush to keep dust off my bellows. I also resist the temptation to do what this guy is doing in the first 40 seconds of the following clip:

 

I am shocked ...

[Jake Middleton-Metcalfe]

in respons to that video, poor melodeon

 

but you may find this handy: http://www.hobgoblin.com/local/concertinaframeuk.htm

 

thats hobgoblins free reed instrument care page

Edited July 10, 2007 by Jake of Hertford

[CaryK]

I use a soft drafter's brush to keep dust off my bellows. I also resist the temptation to do what this guy is doing in the first 40 seconds of the following clip:

 

That's crazy, but hilarious! I wonder how many instruments he goes through in a year.

[Leo]

The first ten seconds shows what might be an utter frustration over some new stiff replacement bellows, or maybe a new cheap box, and he's just breaking them in.

 

After a little agressive manipulation, he does look a little more relaxed in his playing. Maybe it's a new technique.

 

Thanks

Leo

[Dirge]

We all need 20 bellows folds so that we can indulge in such histrionics; it's great theatre, isn't it?