Dingo40
Been here for ages!
A brief glimpse at current accordion (Hohner ??) construction technique ?
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A brief glimpse...?
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Anybody know how many component pieces go into a typical bellows construction? Paul?
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I'll take a guess. 4:
- paper bellows
- corners
- Tape
- Metal corners
- in SOME you may have a metal edge on the outside rims (so 5 in some cases).
Dingo40
Been here for ages!
JimD,
Phew!
The tools, techniques and materials are mediaeval in their simplicity yet the result is breathtaking!
The skill lies in those clever hands.
The craftsmanship is Impressive and inspirational.
Amazing stuff.
Thanks for sharing!??
It reminds me of a demonstration video I saw of a skilled surgeon taking out a gall bladder: it was all over in 10 minutes!
When it came to my own turn, however, (different surgeon) it was more than two hours ??.
Phew!
The tools, techniques and materials are mediaeval in their simplicity yet the result is breathtaking!
The skill lies in those clever hands.
The craftsmanship is Impressive and inspirational.
Amazing stuff.
Thanks for sharing!??
It reminds me of a demonstration video I saw of a skilled surgeon taking out a gall bladder: it was all over in 10 minutes!
When it came to my own turn, however, (different surgeon) it was more than two hours ??.
Dingo40
Been here for ages!
I wonder what the metal they use for the bellows corners and the glue is??
Dingo40
Been here for ages!
A significantly more robust approach to bellows construction. Interesting to see the variations:
I have an acquaintance who built bellows for concertinas in his spare time as a merchant sailor. Once he left the merchant marine he expanded to building complete diatonic accordions for sale.
He didn't go as far as making reeds and valves: he bought these from outside sources.
He told an amusing story of how he managed to secure his first consignment from Italian suppliers who initially simply ignored him (in the early 1980s, before mail orders became the thing).?
I have an acquaintance who built bellows for concertinas in his spare time as a merchant sailor. Once he left the merchant marine he expanded to building complete diatonic accordions for sale.
He didn't go as far as making reeds and valves: he bought these from outside sources.
He told an amusing story of how he managed to secure his first consignment from Italian suppliers who initially simply ignored him (in the early 1980s, before mail orders became the thing).?
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Thanks for the link Jim. Accordion construction never ceases to amaze me. I especially like the innovative tooling (the Beverly Shear: tin snips in a vise, and the door hinge based bending tool). These are truly hand made bellows. I'm reminded of the vid of a Mexican guy who fabbed a replacement reed tongue from a spatula!
Note the 25 Ton press in Dingo's video. That's 8 cars piled on top of each other.
Respecting the corner metal, probably chrome plated mild steel sheet (22 ga.). The glue looks like good old Elmer's White (dare I say it) Glue, however, I doubt Elmer's is available in Russia. In another vid I found, the guy referred to it as PVA? The guy's a brit so couldn't decipher it cleanly. Try your luck at "Hot Rod A Hohner, #7" on U-tube. The whole series is interesting.
Re; The Bellows, I counted 360 pieces without the end frames. There are probably 10 pcs. per frame, and another 20 in the bellows decoration (diamonds and such), so, 400 individual component parts per bellows. It's no wonder a full size accordion can reach 10,000 plus pieces in total.
Press on,
Waldo
Note the 25 Ton press in Dingo's video. That's 8 cars piled on top of each other.
Respecting the corner metal, probably chrome plated mild steel sheet (22 ga.). The glue looks like good old Elmer's White (dare I say it) Glue, however, I doubt Elmer's is available in Russia. In another vid I found, the guy referred to it as PVA? The guy's a brit so couldn't decipher it cleanly. Try your luck at "Hot Rod A Hohner, #7" on U-tube. The whole series is interesting.
Re; The Bellows, I counted 360 pieces without the end frames. There are probably 10 pcs. per frame, and another 20 in the bellows decoration (diamonds and such), so, 400 individual component parts per bellows. It's no wonder a full size accordion can reach 10,000 plus pieces in total.
Press on,
Waldo
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Dingo40
Been here for ages!
Meanwhile, at the Maugein works in France September 2016)?
Very nteresting to see how different artisans at different locations deal with the same problem differently.
Interesting that with new bellows the corners are crimped en bloc ( in a press), not individually with pliers), as may be required during repairs.
Also, how easily a small lapse in attention could result in a disaster.
The design of various tuning tables is interesting.
Very nteresting to see how different artisans at different locations deal with the same problem differently.
Interesting that with new bellows the corners are crimped en bloc ( in a press), not individually with pliers), as may be required during repairs.
Also, how easily a small lapse in attention could result in a disaster.
The design of various tuning tables is interesting.
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