HOW DO I: Replace a thumb strap on a Hohner Diatonic Accordion A-D

[Musically Inclined]

Good morning,
I was playing my Dad's (85+ year old accordion) last night and the leather thumb strap tore in half.

Does anyone know how to take out the "rivets/screws" so I can get a replacement strap and reattach it? (see picture)
Does anyone know the names of the buttons so I can teach myself how to play this squeezebox?
Does anyone know where to buy a lesson book for this model? (Since I normally play the piano accordion, etc)
Does anyone know where to buy and how to attach a shoulder strap?

THANKS FOR any/all advice. I am grateful to be in this forum.
Christine

 

[Dingo40]

I don't know about sourcing thumbstraps

I've heard of people cutting a piece out of a suitable men's leather belt (from a charity shop) and using that.
Here's a possibly relevant video clip:

Here's a thread from melodeon.net:

Replacing Thumb strap Hohner Erica

Replacing Thumb strap Hohner Erica

forum.melodeon.net

One more :

Hohner Thumb Strap

Hohner Thumb Strap

forum.melodeon.net

 

[Squeezebox Of Delights]

I believe the best way is to remove the black plastic fingerboard and drill the rivets out through the button holes. After that, you can replace the thumb strap using some scrap leather, and either rivet it, bolt it or strew it back into place.
Does your box have the brackets for a shoulder strap? They never came with the brackets, so if a dealer didn't add them then you didn't get them. Thumb straps are pretty restricting to play with on a 2 row melodeon, and most players remove them or ignore them, and use a single shoulder strap over the right shoulder, with the thumb pressed against the edge of the keyboard. This is much more comfortable, gives your right hand much more freedom, and allows you to play standing up. Not trying to convert you, just giving some advice!
Also, your box is what's known as a Hohner 'Pokerwork' - the official model name is the 2815/Vienna model, but the nickname they got from the black and gold decoration stuck! They were first built in the 1950s and are still being produced today, only in China rather than Germany. Yours has a plastic keyboard but a leather thumb strap, which I believe dates it to the late 60s-70s. My 1980s Pokerwork has a plastic keyboard with a plastic thumb strap, my Double Ray (similar model but round and covered in red pearloid) was dated 1961 and has a wooden rounded keyboard, and my 1950s 1040 (similar model but with only one row of buttons) has a wooden lyre-shaped keyboard, so yours fits somewhere in between the first two!

 

[Squeezebox Of Delights]

And also here's a diagram showing what notes you'll have. I advise asking about lessons, books and other supplies on melodeon.net, as this type of box is what they specialise in!

 

[Musically Inclined]

I've heard of people cutting a piece out of a suitable men's leather belt (from a charity shop) and using that.
Here's a possibly relevant video clip:

Here's a thread from melodeon.net:

Replacing Thumb strap Hohner Erica

Replacing Thumb strap Hohner Erica

forum.melodeon.net

One more :

Hohner Thumb Strap

Hohner Thumb Strap

forum.melodeon.net

THANK YOU so much, Sir! Your response and correlating links were VERY helpful!

 

[Musically Inclined]

I believe the best way is to remove the black plastic fingerboard and drill the rivets out through the button holes. After that, you can replace the thumb strap using some scrap leather, and either rivet it, bolt it or strew it back into place.
Does your box have the brackets for a shoulder strap? They never came with the brackets, so if a dealer didn't add them then you didn't get them. Thumb straps are pretty restricting to play with on a 2 row melodeon, and most players remove them or ignore them, and use a single shoulder strap over the right shoulder, with the thumb pressed against the edge of the keyboard. This is much more comfortable, gives your right hand much more freedom, and allows you to play standing up. Not trying to convert you, just giving some advice!
Also, your box is what's known as a Hohner 'Pokerwork' - the official model name is the 2815/Vienna model, but the nickname they got from the black and gold decoration stuck! They were first built in the 1950s and are still being produced today, only in China rather than Germany. Yours has a plastic keyboard but a leather thumb strap, which I believe dates it to the late 60s-70s. My 1980s Pokerwork has a plastic keyboard with a plastic thumb strap, my Double Ray (similar model but round and covered in red pearloid) was dated 1961 and has a wooden rounded keyboard, and my 1950s 1040 (similar model but with only one row of buttons) has a wooden lyre-shaped keyboard, so yours fits somewhere in between the first two!

Thank you for the details on my Dad's accordion. It does NOT have brackets for the shoulder strap (which I would love since I am familiar with straps on my piano accordion and I tend to "PLAY HARD" or passionately). Do you know if brackets can be installed now after all these years? I feel that this box is at least 60 years old.
Thanks,
Christine

 

[Musically Inclined]

And also here's a diagram showing what notes you'll have. I advise asking about lessons, books and other supplies on melodeon.net, as this type of box is what they specialise in!

 

[Musically Inclined]

THANK YOU for the diagram. I am heading over to melodeon.net for lessons, books, and supplies now! I appreciate you, SOD!

 

[Squeezebox Of Delights]

Do you know if brackets can be installed now after all these years?

Definitely! They're pretty cheap, and you just position them where you want them, and screw them in place - I think the screws usually are included. You can get a few different types - some are designed to take two straps like a piano accordion, and some just take one. Have a look at some examples on the internet to see how people do it.

 

[Ventura]

regarding adding strap brackets

you need to have the box open (bellows free) from the treble side
so that you can be certain you are not plunging the screw through
some other important component as well as the frame

you also need to consider that you are putting a hole through and
in to the air chamber, so once the end of the screw has pierced the
inside wall, you now have a path for an air leak

personally, i always use small bolts with washers
and a dab of lock-tite rather than screws

if you pre-drill the holes after marking the spots with a pencil,
hold a piece of flat scrap-wood tight to the inside you drill against
which helps prevent the drill bit from frizzling the end of the hole
as it cuts through

many of us will put a bit of reed-wax around such a penetration
just in case, or a dab of glue to seal it up for sure as a final touch

when you have the box apart for the repair, of course put a fresh
bellows gasket on while you are at it

good luck with the work.. just take your time and look and think..

 

[Musically Inclined]

Definitely! They're pretty cheap, and you just position them where you want them, and screw them in place - I think the screws usually are included. You can get a few different types - some are designed to take two straps like a piano accordion, and some just take one. Have a look at some examples on the internet to see how people do it.

Thanks again! You ROCK!

 

[Musically Inclined]

regarding adding strap brackets

you need to have the box open (bellows free) from the treble side
so that you can be certain you are not plunging the screw through
some other important component as well as the frame

you also need to consider that you are putting a hole through and
in to the air chamber, so once the end of the screw has pierced the
inside wall, you now have a path for an air leak

personally, i always use small bolts with washers
and a dab of lock-tite rather than screws

if you pre-drill the holes after marking the spots with a pencil,
hold a piece of flat scrap-wood tight to the inside you drill against
which helps prevent the drill bit from frizzling the end of the hole
as it cuts through

many of us will put a bit of reed-wax around such a penetration
just in case, or a dab of glue to seal it up for sure as a final touch

when you have the box apart for the repair, of course put a fresh
bellows gasket on while you are at it

good luck with the work.. just take your time and look and think..

Thank you for the extra TLC advice!

 

[kimric]

My solution it to remove the keyboard, drill/grind of the rivet, glue a "T nut" in from the inside of the keyboard, attach new strap with screws to the T nut posts. This also allows you to put on a strap that has extra holes for adjustment. use the smalles T-nut that will work #8-10 will work and use screws that have a low head crown. Chamfer the inside of the hole a bit so the nut sits flat inside the keyboard ,and glue in with super glue or what have you. You just don't want it to spin or fall inside. https://www.lowes.com/search?searchTerm=brad+hole+nut&refinement=1511134288798