Function of two metal hoops on bellows dividers of large old concertina?

[Lindakm]

I am redoing 2 old large concertinas. They are heavy, and I need to have something that will keep bellows closed until I am ready to play. Both concertinas have 2 small metal hoops mounted on either side of the middle bellows. What is their function? If they are not to keep the bellows closed, what do you recommend?

 

[JerryPH]

Well, this is more an accordion forum than a concertina forum, you may want to take a visit to melodeon.net, also take some time to post a pic, that always helps (here too).

 

[tcabot]

They are for hooking up shoulder straps if you want to play standing up.

 

[Frank Barocco]

To keep the bellows closed you'd need bellows clasps:

They come in metal too:

 

[tcabot]

I suspect Linda's talking about German-style concertinas. Chemnitzers etc.
Unfortunately there will be no support for them on melnet. And even on concertina.net there are not many players these days.

 

[Lindakm]

I suspect Linda's talking about German-style concertinas. Chemnitzers etc.
Unfortunately there will be no support for them on melnet. And even on concertina.net there are not many players these days.

I was afraid of that. Thanks so much. I'll try to figure something out.

 

[tcabot]

I'll try to figure something out.

For which part?
If it's about keeping the bellows closed, they keep themselves closed in an airtight instrument. If it's taken apart, I'd just remove the bellows and store them separately from the box until it's ready.

If it's for learning, concertina is still a big thing in the US. You can find very old teaching materials online to download for free (any copyright would have expired years ago).

 

[Tom]

I think tcabot is on to something about attaching the shoulder straps. If you post a picture, we can give you a better guess…..

 

[John Doe]

They are for straps- actually usually a neck strap (a la a camera strap) vice shoulder straps. Occasionally added to the smaller concertinas. The English concertina can be really rough on thumbs and pinkies (there are no wrist straps) if not resting on a leg.

Given daily use over several weeks you (I) can hold one in front of me while playing but getting to that point was more than mildly painful- and I was still a sprout (50's) when I took it up.

Given the wrist straps on a bandoneon and its general aspect when being played (a giant fabric covered slinky) playing it held up off the legs would be ungainly for most- it sags in the middle when extended and extend it does in a big way, hence either the strap to support the center or thighs as support.

The straps are not used all that frequently on the bandoneons, perhaps a bit moreso on Chemenitzers (based upon my limited experience of personal solitary use and a quick survey of bandoneon playing on Youtube) - Henry