Vintage tuning table

[Jomme]

Hello everybody,

I recently got hold on this pretty 'factory' tuning table.
The kind previous owner got it in castelfidardo from people who use to have a littel factory there...
There is a brandname on the thing (second pic) Deos anybody has information on this??????

I will change the leathers on top and may dig into the inside but keep everything original, looks nice...

Cheers

G

 

[Ben-jammin]

Hello everybody,

I recently got hold on this pretty 'factory' tuning table.
The kind previous owner got it in castelfidardo from people who use to have a littel factory there...
There is a brandname on the thing (second pic) Deos anybody has information on this??????

I tried to increase the contrast to try to better see the script. I am not seeing any potential matches on the list.

Accordion Links: Manufacturers and Brands

Accordion Links: accordion brands and manufacturers

www.accordionlinks.com

I guess it could be the name of the owner, or could the factory have been a reed maker?

 

[Dingo40]

Seems very complicated.
For example, see here:

This item is unavailable | Etsy

Find the perfect handmade gift, vintage & on-trend clothes, unique jewellery, and more… lots more.

www.etsy.com

What are all the clips for ??

 

[debra]

We used one of these during the ACA accordion repair courses (in Castelfidardo). This table is used to check individual reeds (not on a reed block). You can do a very rough check of the tuning of a newly made reed (plate) and you can check the voicing (whether the note starts and plays well). As there are reeds of all different sizes this thing has holes in all different sizes, so you pick a hole that matches the size of the reed, hold the reed plate in place with the clips, and then you press the button and operate the bellows.

 

[Tom]

Writing looks Russian to me.

 

[debra]

Seems very complicated.
For example, see here:

This item is unavailable | Etsy

Find the perfect handmade gift, vintage & on-trend clothes, unique jewellery, and more… lots more.

www.etsy.com

What are all the clips for ??

A "reed block tuning table" is a much simpler device than an "individual reed tuning table". One cannot really be a substitute for the other. They serve a different purpose.

 

[Jomme]

Thanks guys, think I will try to restore the thing but with keeping 'the looks' as original as possible...

 

[JerryPH]

I have any info on it, but it looks very cool!

 

[debra]

Thanks guys, think I will try to restore the thing but with keeping 'the looks' as original as possible...

Let us have a look at the final result please!
Just one addition: the main reason we don't see this type of tuning table any more is that we now mostly see them with just one hole and a mount for the reed plate that is adjustable (at least lengthwise). That's what I have seen being used by reed makers. One adjustable hole makes for a much more compact setup than having a separate hole for every possible reed length.

 

[Waldo]

I rather like this one. The table doesn't move up and down when using. Ports could be reconfigured for easier use with blocks.
Note the vent option on the top.



Waldo

 

[Ffingers]

This one looked good, too

 

[debra]

This one looked good, too

...

Looks good as long as you DON'T DO ANYTHING SAID OR DONE IN THE VIDEO.
Such a "tuning table" is only useful to check whether notes play OK (and even that doesn't work 100%), and you can do a rough tuning of the DEVIATION MEASURED INSIDE THE INSTRUMENT. You cannot do tuning based on just the deviation measured with the tuning block on the table. It will always be off by a few cents compared to what it sounds inside the accordion.
Then, to tune the reeds, use a scratcher to lower the pitch and a file to raise the pitch. DO NOT USE A ROTARY TOOL (like a Dremel). In the video he say you have to be careful to not make a mistake but the mistake is to use this tool in the first place!

 

[Jomme]

Thanks for your comments Paul and others!
I think my antique tavble was built into a table and was actuated by foot.(sewing machine-ish) That is what I want to do and have both hands free.
I might try to renovate the antique thing for fun but Im also thinking making something more versatile where I could put a full (half) accordeon and use plates to change it to a reed tuning table or a reed block table.. I might make some adjustable holders for the reeds... now that Ive aquired a 3D printer I have to use it haha (I saw your accordeon foot on thingiverse by the way ;-)
Does anybody have ideas for a pressure gauge? At what approx pressure do you tune and do you use some kind of colomn? Makes me thing I have a electronic carb tuner in my garage that could do the job I think...

 

[Jomme]

So for the ones on this planet who wonder how a old Italilan reed tuning table looks like on the inside...
First of all I found literally llittle piles of metal dust from all the filing they did...



afeter that I had to remove about 10 layers of glue on the top surface where the leather goes



Now the holes are starting to look less or more rectangular again...



and for the mechanism it looks lihe this: (only one spring missing...)

 

[Waldo]

I think this is a cool machine and I would endeavor to restore it, too.
Press on, Jomme,

Waldo