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Author Topic: National Band  (Read 2175 times)

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tiny

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National Band
« on: February 26, 2014, 09:41:27 PM »

One of my young students (14 years of age)  has been given a National Band one row, 'Cherry' to work on by an elderly gentleman in the village. The student is looking for some new reed block as the old ones can't be repaired he tells me.  I know absolutely nothing on the repair side, does anyone have any idea how to go about such things/where to find reed blocks etc. Any help gratefully received and forwarded.
Lizzy
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lizzy in Hoppicking Herefordshire

Castagnari Tommy, Hohner one row,Dino Baffetti Binci, Giordy.

squeezy

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Re: National Band
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2014, 09:50:42 PM »

It's tough without pictures to give any advice on this one.

National band instruments will be pretty old (1910s-1920s?) - and as such often in difficult to renovate condition - but not necessarily impossible.  It will be hard to impossible to get a direct replacement of a reed-block (the wooden bit that holds the reeds) as they've been out of business for a good long time - but a determined person could make a new one.

But my guess is that what your student means is the reed plate(s) - the metal bit that holds the reed(s) ... on instruments of that age it could be that whole banks of reeds are on a single plate which makes repairing duff reeds very hard.  If they're on single plates then there's a chance you can buy modern or reclaimed replacement reeds that will fit - but if you have to replace a majority then it's not really economic to do so.

I'm sure if you can upload some pictures of the offending reeds/plates/blocks then it's much more likely that someone here will be able to advise with a lot more certainty.

Cheers

Squeezy
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Squeezy

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tiny

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Re: National Band
« Reply #2 on: February 27, 2014, 12:46:18 PM »

Thank you squeezy, I shall send this information to him and wait to hear.
This young man is enthusiastic in his working on instruments, and asked me to post on this forum for him. He has just joined NYFTE (playing melodeon) its wonderful to be able to encourage youngsters and see them grow in confidence and skill. (:)
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lizzy in Hoppicking Herefordshire

Castagnari Tommy, Hohner one row,Dino Baffetti Binci, Giordy.

Theo

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Re: National Band
« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2014, 01:41:28 PM »

I have some long reed plates of the type probably fitted to the instrument in question.  There are many different configurations though so I don't know how we could work out if I have a matching set.

I think it is also worth pointing out that renovating this type old instrument can be very difficult and the young man shoul not feel bad if he discovers that he is unable to get it playing.  I try to avoid working in this type if box whenever I can and I've been earning a living repairing boxes for nearly ten years.
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Theo Gibb - Gateshead UK

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tiny

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Re: National Band
« Reply #4 on: February 27, 2014, 01:55:15 PM »

Thank you Theo for the information. Yes I acknowledge the limitations and will again pass this on to him.

Workshops for repairing......now are there any of those around?
Lizzy
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lizzy in Hoppicking Herefordshire

Castagnari Tommy, Hohner one row,Dino Baffetti Binci, Giordy.

Theo

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Re: National Band
« Reply #5 on: February 27, 2014, 02:18:25 PM »

Yes there is next month in Mendlesham http://forum.melodeon.net/index.php/topic,14263.0.html
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Theo Gibb - Gateshead UK

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malcolmbebb

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Re: National Band
« Reply #6 on: February 27, 2014, 04:20:44 PM »

And apparently there are still places.
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Re: National Band
« Reply #7 on: March 05, 2014, 10:51:08 PM »

Thanks for the replies. Mum here! Unfortunately Suffolk is a bit far for us. I tried to attach a photo but can't upload it even though it is compressed.
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Steve_freereeder

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Re: National Band
« Reply #8 on: March 06, 2014, 07:47:56 AM »

I tried to attach a photo but can't upload it even though it is compressed.
You need to check the file size of the photo. The maximum size for uploading a photo to this forum is 256 KB which is really quite small, considering that modern digital cameras and phone cameras will easily generate photos with a file size of 2 - 4 MB or more.
Even though your photo is 'compressed' it may well be still too large. You will probably need to reduce the resolution (number of pixels) of the photo. Most photo/image editing software should be able to do this for you.

As a very approximate guide, an average subject photo of a melodeon or inside components with pixel dimensions say 1000 x 760, at medium- to high-quality jpeg compression, will be around 250 KB which is just on the limit for this forum. If you reduce your pixel dimensions still further, say to 800 x 600, you should end up with a file size around the 150 KB size which is easily within the forum limits and yet should remain sufficiently good resolution so that the finer details are still visible.
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Andrew Wigglesworth

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Re: National Band
« Reply #9 on: March 06, 2014, 12:33:18 PM »

Or post it somewhere else and provide a link.

tiny

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Re: National Band
« Reply #10 on: March 12, 2014, 11:11:19 PM »

The young man told me today that he has sorted the melodeon. Well done him. Thanks for all the advice much appreciated.  (:)
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lizzy in Hoppicking Herefordshire

Castagnari Tommy, Hohner one row,Dino Baffetti Binci, Giordy.
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