'Campbell's Improved' concertina

[mousecorns]

I have a concertina for repair, bearing the label 'Campbell's Improved Concertina, 103 Trongate, Glasgow'. I understand that Campbell's were dealers, not makers, and instruments bearing their name were made by various makers, including Lachenal and Jones. This is an unusual concertina, in that it has two voices (presumably this is the 'improvement' to which the label refers), with a coupler switch at each end. It is clearly a cheaply made instrument, having wooden levers, to which the buttons are glued via leather pads, and eight common reed frames, each bearing 10 reeds. Despite this, it seems to be in fairly good overall condition, save for tired valves, some broken springs and a few loose or missing buttons (all of which I have taken care of already), and I would like to get it playing. The problem is, there is one broken reed and, since it is mounted on the same frame as 9 others, the whole frame needs to be replaced. I contacted one repairer, but he no longer keeps parts for these concertinas.

 

Is there anyone who might have such a spare reed frame?

 

Of course, the advantage of having two voices is that it would still be playable with only one reed missing. But I would like to get it fully working if possible.

[Bill N]

The problem is, there is one broken reed and, since it is mounted on the same frame as 9 others, the whole frame needs to be replaced. I contacted one repairer, but he no longer keeps parts for these concertinas.

 

Is there anyone who might have such a spare reed frame?

 

Of course, the advantage of having two voices is that it would still be playable with only one reed missing. But I would like to get it fully working if possible.

 

Are you sure the reed can't be replaced? I have a similarly constructed Henry Harley concertina (Single voice, but multiple reeds on long brass frames.) The reeds are attached to the frame with rivets. A local accordion technician had no trouble removing a broken reed and attaching a new one. I will try to post a photo of the innards.showing the replaced reed.

[Bill N]

The problem is, there is one broken reed and, since it is mounted on the same frame as 9 others, the whole frame needs to be replaced.

 

As promised, here is a picture of the reed block from my Henry Harley, showing a replacement reed. (centre of photo, with a dark coloured base) This photo was taken prior to the most recent work, so this isn't the reed that was replaced recently, but the method would have been the same. I believe it's a matter of grinding off

the head of the rivet, carefully drifting the shaft of the rivet out, then replacing the broken unit with a new reed and rivet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bob Tedrow]

I have a "double melodeon" a Chromatic button box with the same label.

 

It has a very interesting mechanism that allows the same button to control levers on opposite sides of the centrally located

 

fingerboard

 

I have a concertina for repair, bearing the label 'Campbell's Improved Concertina, 103 Trongate, Glasgow'. I understand that Campbell's were dealers, not makers, and instruments bearing their name were made by various makers, including Lachenal and Jones. This is an unusual concertina, in that it has two voices (presumably this is the 'improvement' to which the label refers), with a coupler switch at each end. It is clearly a cheaply made instrument, having wooden levers, to which the buttons are glued via leather pads, and eight common reed frames, each bearing 10 reeds. Despite this, it seems to be in fairly good overall condition, save for tired valves, some broken springs and a few loose or missing buttons (all of which I have taken care of already), and I would like to get it playing. The problem is, there is one broken reed and, since it is mounted on the same frame as 9 others, the whole frame needs to be replaced. I contacted one repairer, but he no longer keeps parts for these concertinas.

 

Is there anyone who might have such a spare reed frame?

 

Of course, the advantage of having two voices is that it would still be playable with only one reed missing. But I would like to get it fully working if possible.

[Bill N]

I have a concertina for repair, bearing the label 'Campbell's Improved Concertina, 103 Trongate, Glasgow'. I understand that Campbell's were dealers, not makers, and instruments bearing their name were made by various makers, including Lachenal and Jones. This is an unusual concertina, in that it has two voices (presumably this is the 'improvement' to which the label refers),

 

 

I just had a good look at my Henry Harley, and noted that it too is labelled as "improved". Like yours, it has a wooden action. Like Campbell, Harley was a dealer, not a manufacturer. It is my understanding from some of the historians on this forum that he would have the guts of these instruments made in Germany (hence the wooden action and accordion style reed blocks), then "improve" them by adding end bolts instead of screws, scroll cut fretwork in place of simple drilled sound holes, gold tooling, ebonized finish, etc. to make them more palatable for the English market. I think the 2 voice feature was pretty common on German concertinas, although I haven't seen one with stops.

[Theo]

As promised, here is a picture of the reed block from my Henry Harley, showing a replacement reed. (centre of photo, with a dark coloured base) This photo was taken prior to the most recent work, so this isn't the reed that was replaced recently, but the method would have been the same. I believe it's a matter of grinding off

the head of the rivet, carefully drifting the shaft of the rivet out, then replacing the broken unit with a new reed and rivet.

 

That is the method, but it can be a pain in the (insert sensitive area of choice) especially with the more common brass reeds which are very easily damaged during the riveting process.