Cost to repair/refurbish a concertina

Subject: RE: Cost to repair/refurbish a concertina
From: Anglogeezer
Date: 26 Aug 18 - 01:19 PM

EBarnacle says ....

"Subject: RE: Cost to repair/refurbish a concertina
From: EBarnacle - PM
Date: 22 Aug 18 - 01:28 AM

Gargoyle is right. The sticking buttons are very likely due to dried felt rings around the buttons. Use the very lightest oil you can find. Do not use automotive oil or 3 in one, which is 30 weight. Sewing machine oil is good. Go very light on the amount you use."

Dave Elliot's Concertina Maintenance Manual says .....
Page 4. Basic Care. ..
..
No. 8. Do not lubricate anything. It will collect dust and gum up the works
..

Jake

Subject: RE: Cost to repair/refurbish a concertina
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 26 Aug 18 - 10:49 AM

Mayfair. Have a look inside.
Unscrew the milled side screw at one end. Unscrew the 6 endplate screws at that end in rotation a little at a time and lift the end off carefully with screws still in situ. You will immediately have access to the reeds/reedbanks. If each reed is screwed down to the brass shoe with 2 screws you have the much more upmarket model which I have. If the reeds are all together in banks pinned and waxed down you have the cheaper accordeon type.

Before you take it to a shop or repairer I would recommend having a word with someone who has done their own repairs or knows something about concertinas in general and let them have a good look at your box, perhaps even take it apart. It may be that if not much needs doing to it they could do it for you.

If you tell us where you live we can perhaps recommend somebody local to you.

Repairing the levers, springs, pads, bushes is much more fiddly but if only a couple need attention there are plenty of players/amateur repairers around. The big problem with professionals is they are inundated with work and have long waiting lists.

Subject: RE: Cost to repair/refurbish a concertina
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 26 Aug 18 - 10:15 AM

If you live anywhere near one of the experienced repairers, go and see them and let them talk you through what definitely needs fixing and anything else that may as well be fixed while they're about it. None of them is likely to rip you off, whereas as GUEST,KarenH said not all shops can be trusted.

Subject: RE: Cost to repair/refurbish a concertina
From: GUEST,Guest Tim
Date: 25 Aug 18 - 03:06 PM

Look up Wolverton Concertinas, Jake is not only making concertiners but offers a repair service, he is a real craftsman and a good guy to boot.

Subject: RE: Cost to repair/refurbish a concertina
From: The Sandman
Date: 23 Aug 18 - 05:36 PM

most mayfairs used Accordian type reeds, they were only available between 1955-60.so basically they are accordions inside a concertina, sao accordion repaires would probably be competent to retune but but not button refurbishment.

Subject: RE: Cost to repair/refurbish a concertina
From: Howard Jones
Date: 23 Aug 18 - 03:47 PM

Accordions are very different from concertinas, and whilst they both contain free reeds they are of different types. I would be cautious about letting an accordion shop carry out repairs unless they already have a reputation for working on concertinas as well. You'll do better to find a concertina specialist - concertina.net will point you in the right direction.

Get hold of Dave Elliott's "Handbook of Concertina Maintenance". This will show you how to carry out many repairs. Many problems can be solved fairly easily, and even if you decide not to attempt them yourself it is useful to understand what is involved and when it might be advisable to bring in an expert.

Subject: RE: Cost to repair/refurbish a concertina
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 Aug 18 - 03:12 PM

mayfair model were the cheapestmodel often 1950s wheatstones

Subject: RE: Cost to repair/refurbish a concertina
From: GUEST,Busker On A Budget
Date: 22 Aug 18 - 02:03 PM

I'm going to register at concertina.net, thanks.

I'll ask there, too, but would anyone have an idea of a ballpark value on an instrument like this?

Let's assume one value as is, and one in good working order.

Guesstimate?

Subject: RE: Cost to repair/refurbish a concertina
From: GUEST,KarenH
Date: 22 Aug 18 - 04:20 AM

I asked in a so=called specialist shop about melodeon repair once. They told me the instrument wasn't worth repairing and offered me forty quid for it. It was just one reed buzzing a bit. I later sold it for over 300. German made Hohner pokerwork.

Not all shops can be trusted.

Subject: RE: Cost to repair/refurbish a concertina
From: EBarnacle
Date: 22 Aug 18 - 01:28 AM

Gargoyle is right. The sticking buttons are very likely due to dried felt rings around the buttons. Use the very lightest oil you can find. Do not use automotive oil or 3 in one, which is 30 weight. Sewing machine oil is good. Go very light on the amount you use.

Subject: RE: Cost to repair/refurbish a concertina
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 21 Aug 18 - 06:13 PM

Bring it into the shop.
Ask for advice.
Request a bid.
Ask for details.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

then do it yourself...this is not a complicated instrument.

Subject: RE: Cost to repair/refurbish a concertina
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 21 Aug 18 - 05:05 PM

Hand straps, not rocket science. An old leather handbag cut up made the current straps on my Wheatstone Special. They've been very serviceable for at least 10 years. Buttons sticking, usually the bushes need replacing, again a bit fiddly but easily done with some thin felt from the local craft shop, pence from the Pound Shop. All the info you need as posted by Dick.

Subject: RE: Cost to repair/refurbish a concertina
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 Aug 18 - 10:47 AM

hand straps cost should be available on the site of c wheatstone and co, buttons sticking is not a big expensive problem join concertina.net and ask there

Subject: Cost to repair/refurbish a concertina
From: GUEST,Busker On A Budget
Date: 21 Aug 18 - 10:42 AM

Hello, all.

I'm going to be in possession of a Mayfair 30-button concertina soon.

I'm a total newbie to the instrument. I'm told it needs hand straps and that a couple of the keys sometimes stick.

There's an accordion shop near me, and they've specialized in sales and repairs for a long time now.

Is there any way to venture a guess as to how much these repairs might cost? Perhaps a best-case/worst-case scenario?

Thanks!