Grill cloth and glue removal

[craigd]

Hello,
I'm new here, thanks for having me.

I am restoring, in a very amateur way, an old Excelsior 940. The unattractive grill cloth, which appears to be fiberglass (but probably isn't ?), is held on by copious amounts of browned glue. Would soaking the  grill in hot water, to soften the glue, harm or discolour the black cellulose finish?

Thanks,
Craig

 

[debra]

It is possible that the cloth is indeed fiberglass. Lots of materials have been used in the past. I would vote against soaking the grille in hot water. Water will not harm the black celluloid but if the glue dissolves in water it may harm the celluloid finish. Can probably be polished off again but i wouldn't risk it. I would suggest to sand off any glue residue that remains on the inside of the grille (and that is also hard to do without scratching the celluloid that's on the other side).

 

[JIM D.]

Ive been replacing grill cloth for many years now.  Your Excelsior grill cloth was factory installed with a water soluble glue making it simple to remove. Find a vessel that your grill will fit into - fill it with lukewarm water & a small amount of dish detergent then soak your grill for 1/2 to 1 hour. The cloth will then peel off leaving a small amount of residue on the inside of the grill itself.  Dry off the grill leaving the small amount of residue as this will aid in the new glue to adhere.  Fabri-Tac then can be used to install your new grill cloth.

  https://www.amazon.com/Beacon-Fabri...ocphy=9001644&hvtargid=pla-311902931978&psc=1

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And I should have mentioned to have some VM&P Naptha around to thin the new glue & aid in removing excess.
https://www.amazon.com/2-Pack-VM-NA...83774&s=gateway&sprefix=naptha,aps,132&sr=8-1

 

[craigd]

Thanks so much to both of you for the prompt replies. 

I will get that shiny new grill cloth in there tonight. It's a sheer "metallic" fabric from the sewing store and will do for now. Where are the proper grill cloths obtained?

Craig

 

[JIM D.]

Thanks so much to both of you for the prompt replies. 

I will get that shiny new grill cloth in there tonight. It's a sheer "metallic" fabric from the sewing store and will do for now. Where are the proper grill cloths obtained?

Craig

 

[JIM D.]

Hi craigh: 
  Your old grill cloth was a combination of nylon fibers , cotton & metallic threads.
Your choice of new color ( colour) will of course be your Cup Of Tea .
 Ive been making in shop grill cloth that has a wire back , acoustically transparent & easy to install.
Now in fact if you have 940 (of the 70s) or a 940 (70s & up made by Pigini) will when restored properly will with care outlast you and future owners (they dont make them like they used to)

I see your from my side of the pond so take a look at Frank has
 to to offer at --
http://frment.com/general-parts/

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Frank is at -
http://frment.com/

 

[craigd]

Thanks for that further info Jim. Those grill clothes look good. I don't know the vintage of my accordion, but I am curious. No serial number that I can find, even the Made in Italy is half worn off.

 

[craigd]

Thanks Jim
Those grill clothes look good. Here's a pic of the beast. Can you tell its vintage?
Craig

 

[craigd]

Oops. Maybe here...
(Mute just not back in for pic)

 

[JIM D.]

No Pic'   ???

 

[craigd]

Oops. Tried to post from my little old phone; it's not smart enough, I guess. Or maybe I'm not.

It's in pieces, the mute's out. 

 

[JIM D.]

Great looking box  --   1960 to 1970

 

[craigd]

Great looking box  --   1960 to 1970

Thanks Jim. I've been curious about its age. Was that a quality era at Excelsior?

It is very well used. Fully functional and no damage but much wear. It has a wetter (more vibrato?) tuning than the two other Italian boxes I have - I like the sound, but it is less "neutral" than those. Was there a variety of tunings on stock Excelsiors, or would this have been re-tuned?

 

[JIM D.]

Your Box is one of the finest last real Excelsiors. After the 70's the name was sold and now made by Pigini.
The Excelsior subsidiary of Pigini today makes a " fine product " but in no way will equal the sturdiness of build, sound quality, & keyboard action of the originals. (They Don't Make Them Like They Used To!!).
Your box was most likely not re-tuned but ordered "wet" tuned from Italy.
I specialize in in rebuilding the "Golden Age Of Accordions"  Era Accordions and most models are Excelsiors, Excelsiola & Accordiana
models of Excelsior made in the US & Italy.
Take care of that 940 as if refurbished properly will last easily for another half century.
Musically Yours;
JIM D.