How do I attach the BASS plate to my piano accordion?

[Musically Inclined]

Hello Friends,

I was playing my 120 Bass piano accordion two weeks ago and the Bass plate/panel came out of the inside tracks. Scandelli brand, older model, no screws or pins. It just snaps into the grooves inside. Does anyone know how to secure it so I can continue to play? Please and thank you for your suggestions.

 

[John Doe]

Impossible to really answer definitively without holding the thing (or an identical model)

Based upon the limited view in your pictures it seems to possibly be a spring loaded catch which has slipped over the pin it is supposed to latch on. In that case you might carefully push the plate back on and see if the latch will re-engage th pin.

Failing that, unscrew the bass strap (easy enough to re-engage though you'll have to align the screw with the threaded hole in the adjuster wheel- sometimes annoying in the "get the little balls in the clowns face" puzzle sense but not technically difficult at all- and with it removed look at how the left side of the base plate was held in and mirror image it on the right. Assuming nothing is broken it should be simple.

You'll want to figure out how it came undone. A bump? Some inadvertant push on a spring loaded or sliding catch if it has those (not at all a given)? A missing/loose screw holding the plate in at the bottom allowing the top to come off its catch? A loose pin that the mechanism engages on perhaps with a plate with adjustment slots which has moved? A cracked wooden mount for the same?

Good luck-

Henry

 

[Dingo40]

It just snaps into the grooves inside.

I have a model with one or two spring loaded clips holding the panel in place.
It helps to keep the push button(s) on the clips down with your finger(s) while repositioning the panel.
Good luck with it!

 

[Dingo40]

Yes, I just checked with one of my own accordions: the "Gold Series" range of Scandalli accordions (first issued in the 1950s) came with a perforated metal bass plate attached to the bass box (under the bass strap) by means of a spring loaded button at each end.
Everything being in working order, it should be an easy matter to detach/replace the bass plate (even with the bass strap in situ) by actuating these buttons with one's fingers and moving the bass plate about a bit until it slips into place.
(Although the bass plate looks symmetrical, there could be a right and a wrong way about. If having problems, check out the orientation!)

 

[Musically Inclined]

Impossible to really answer definitively without holding the thing (or an identical model)

Based upon the limited view in your pictures it seems to possibly be a spring loaded catch which has slipped over the pin it is supposed to latch on. In that case you might carefully push the plate back on and see if the latch will re-engage th pin.

Failing that, unscrew the bass strap (easy enough to re-engage though you'll have to align the screw with the threaded hole in the adjuster wheel- sometimes annoying in the "get the little balls in the clowns face" puzzle sense but not technically difficult at all- and with it removed look at how the left side of the base plate was held in and mirror image it on the right. Assuming nothing is broken it should be simple.

You'll want to figure out how it came undone. A bump? Some inadvertant push on a spring loaded or sliding catch if it has those (not at all a given)? A missing/loose screw holding the plate in at the bottom allowing the top to come off its catch? A loose pin that the mechanism engages on perhaps with a plate with adjustment slots which has moved? A cracked wooden mount for the same?

Good luck-

Henry

THANK YOU for the suggestions. I was able to remove the bass plate and inspect the spring action of the Right and Left "clasps." I noticed 3 things (see pictures):
1) On the Left side, the wire/"spring" was not as tight as the Right side
2) Because it was too loose, it was wrapped over the pin (on the outside of the groove)
3) It did not extend all the way to the end of the black encasement. (Hmm...previous owners may have made adjustments)

That said, I feel that I need to tighten the left side wire so it has the same amount of tension as the right side wire to "close" the gap in the latch mechanism that holds the bass plate on or replace the wire altogether.

Any ideas on what gauge wire to use if I try to replace the wire or where I can purchase a new one...
Thank you again for your expertise, I appreciate you!

 

[Musically Inclined]

So my neighbor had an extra spring that we connected but then noticed that the screw pin is loose. We are putting our heads together to determine how to fix it permanently. We are open to suggestions. Epoxy Glue, plumber's tape, etc? Please see the picture and THANK YOU in advance!
Christine

 

[Ventura]

first of all, don't be afraid of rolling the bass strap adjustor back until
it lets the strap hand free (and out of the way) easy to put back in

actually, 2 clips and the whole Bass mech drops out of those
if you need more elbow room to work in

smooth that slightly fractured wood area by sanding
or filing being careful not to let the dust go down into the box,
then rub simple wood glue (or even white elmers glue) into all
the little cracks.. this will re-connect the cellulose fibers and
make the area strong again

then you want to make the HOLE smaller, so you can make a mix
of wood glue and coarse sawdust, or just glue an appropriately
sized peg or dowel or even fat toothpick or 3 thin ones in there

after it had dried overnight, you can then snip excess and sand it flush
before drilling a new hole smaller than the screw peg and re-installing
that peg.

in other words, make it like new with similar material.. no duct tape please

 

[Musically Inclined]

Thank you for your quick reply. We are hunkered down with 17 inches of snow...A great time to work on this repair.