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Author Topic: Malcolm Bebb's Koch  (Read 12224 times)

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Nick Collis Bird

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Malcolm Bebb's Koch
« on: November 09, 2015, 02:13:48 PM »

Had a delightful afternoon yesterday over here in Swanage.
I bought Malcolm's Koch... Now come on don't start!
It's a pressed wood in GC and it is in an apalling cosmetic condition, yet unbelievably it plays really really well. Okay, yes there are a few sticky levers but nothing that a forefinger whilst playing can't cure. The cosmetics are terrible and that gives it such character. It certainly goes with steam punk.
 I'll you tube it when I can.
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Has anyone heard of the song. “ Broken Alarm-clock Blues” ? It starts   “I woke up this Afternoon”

911377brian

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Re: Malcolm Bebb's Koch
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2015, 02:15:50 PM »

Got a spare Bb Malcolm?
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malcolmbebb

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Re: Malcolm Bebb's Koch
« Reply #2 on: November 09, 2015, 02:19:59 PM »

Well, actually - but not a one-row.

Only took it round there to consult the master about the covering material on the frame and bellows.
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Dino BPII.
"Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire."

911377brian

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Re: Malcolm Bebb's Koch
« Reply #3 on: November 09, 2015, 04:03:33 PM »

That NCB is beginning to make me feel normal..
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malcolmbebb

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Re: Malcolm Bebb's Koch
« Reply #5 on: November 09, 2015, 04:27:57 PM »

It might be - he never actually told me!
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Dino BPII.
"Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire."

Theo

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Re: Malcolm Bebb's Koch
« Reply #6 on: November 09, 2015, 06:19:34 PM »

The ones I've seen have been covered with a textured paper which doesn't wear terribly well.  Sandgrain Rexine is the best match I've managed to find.
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Theo Gibb - Gateshead UK

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Nick Collis Bird

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Re: Malcolm Bebb's Koch
« Reply #7 on: November 10, 2015, 07:14:48 AM »

Wot Theo says
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Has anyone heard of the song. “ Broken Alarm-clock Blues” ? It starts   “I woke up this Afternoon”

Graham Spencer

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Re: Malcolm Bebb's Koch
« Reply #8 on: November 11, 2015, 11:50:38 AM »

The ones I've seen have been covered with a textured paper which doesn't wear terribly well.  Sandgrain Rexine is the best match I've managed to find.

I've got one of these undergoing a rebuild, and the paper bellows tape is well past its use-by date. I like the Rexine idea; any suggestions as to the best adhesive to use?

Cheers
Graham
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Among others, Saltarelle Pastourelle II D/G; Hohner 4-stop 1-rows in C & G; assorted Hohners; 3-voice German (?) G/C of uncertain parentage; lovely little Hlavacek 1-row Heligonka; B♭/E♭ Koch. Newly acquired G/C Hohner Viktoria. Also Fender Jazz bass, Telecaster, Stratocaster, Epiphone Sheraton, Charvel-Jackson 00-style acoustic guitar, Danelectro 12-string and other stuff..........

Squeezing in the Cyprus sunshine

911377brian

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Re: Malcolm Bebb's Koch
« Reply #9 on: November 11, 2015, 11:53:52 AM »

I've re taped bellows but never replaced the bellows paper. Anyone ever tried vinyl wall paper?
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malcolmbebb

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Re: Malcolm Bebb's Koch
« Reply #10 on: November 11, 2015, 11:54:20 AM »

From previous conversations, first find your Rexine. Then worry about gluing it.
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Dino BPII.
"Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire."

Graham Spencer

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Re: Malcolm Bebb's Koch
« Reply #11 on: November 11, 2015, 12:25:53 PM »

From previous conversations, first find your Rexine. Then worry about gluing it.

Already sourced and in my shopping cart; just wondering about adhesive in case I need a specialist glue that I can order at the same time.

Graham
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Among others, Saltarelle Pastourelle II D/G; Hohner 4-stop 1-rows in C & G; assorted Hohners; 3-voice German (?) G/C of uncertain parentage; lovely little Hlavacek 1-row Heligonka; B♭/E♭ Koch. Newly acquired G/C Hohner Viktoria. Also Fender Jazz bass, Telecaster, Stratocaster, Epiphone Sheraton, Charvel-Jackson 00-style acoustic guitar, Danelectro 12-string and other stuff..........

Squeezing in the Cyprus sunshine

Nick Collis Bird

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Re: Malcolm Bebb's Koch
« Reply #12 on: November 11, 2015, 12:43:53 PM »

Okay, first off "Rexine" is not made anymore, you either have a lookalike or old stock.
Rexine is an absolute bastard to glue especially if you have to glue the shiny side to itself. If that's the case rough up the surface with acetone or similar. PVA is the preferred glue but make sure it's the right stuff, woodworkers PVA is not.
As for the bellows paper, paste is preferred but again not wallpaper stuff it's too acidic.
Why spend a lot of time restoring something and then use something that will rot.
  If you find the the PVA is drying too quickly before you can properly position your material, then add a little paste. This will give you a longer "open" time.
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Has anyone heard of the song. “ Broken Alarm-clock Blues” ? It starts   “I woke up this Afternoon”

malcolmbebb

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Re: Malcolm Bebb's Koch
« Reply #13 on: November 11, 2015, 01:00:55 PM »

Brian, I think it will be way too thick. I fancy using some of the Japanese papers when I get a chance. I'm guessing Nick might be taking talking corn paste.

« Last Edit: November 11, 2015, 06:01:22 PM by malcolmbebb »
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Dino BPII.
"Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire."

Nick Collis Bird

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Re: Malcolm Bebb's Koch
« Reply #14 on: November 11, 2015, 01:08:33 PM »

No Malcolm, I don't eat corn paste!
 Best thing is to buy it in powdered form from bookbinders suppliers. Otherwise rice flour  is the best.
 put rice in a food whizzer until you have a powder, mix with water and slowly bring to the boil as if making a white sauce. When cooling add some thymol crystals to prevent mold. Will keep in the fridge for about a week. So it's probably better to buy the powder and just add cold water.

Edit . For spelling
« Last Edit: November 11, 2015, 01:10:35 PM by Nick Collis Bird »
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Has anyone heard of the song. “ Broken Alarm-clock Blues” ? It starts   “I woke up this Afternoon”

Graham Spencer

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Re: Malcolm Bebb's Koch
« Reply #15 on: November 11, 2015, 02:16:31 PM »

Okay, first off "Rexine" is not made anymore, you either have a lookalike or old stock.
Rexine is an absolute bastard to glue especially if you have to glue the shiny side to itself. If that's the case rough up the surface with acetone or similar. PVA is the preferred glue but make sure it's the right stuff, woodworkers PVA is not.
As for the bellows paper, paste is preferred but again not wallpaper stuff it's too acidic.
Why spend a lot of time restoring something and then use something that will rot.
  If you find the the PVA is drying too quickly before you can properly position your material, then add a little paste. This will give you a longer "open" time.

Thanks Nick. I know Rexine was last made in 2005; the material in my shopping cart is leathercloth from Ratchfords, which they say is as near as dammit. No money has changed hands yet - I'm open to other suggestions for suitable materials. The problem, of course, is the wide bellows frames; bellows tape just doesn't come 2 inches wide!

Graham
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Among others, Saltarelle Pastourelle II D/G; Hohner 4-stop 1-rows in C & G; assorted Hohners; 3-voice German (?) G/C of uncertain parentage; lovely little Hlavacek 1-row Heligonka; B♭/E♭ Koch. Newly acquired G/C Hohner Viktoria. Also Fender Jazz bass, Telecaster, Stratocaster, Epiphone Sheraton, Charvel-Jackson 00-style acoustic guitar, Danelectro 12-string and other stuff..........

Squeezing in the Cyprus sunshine

Nick Collis Bird

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Re: Malcolm Bebb's Koch
« Reply #16 on: November 11, 2015, 02:44:27 PM »

Ratchfords, is as near as you can get Graham.
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Has anyone heard of the song. “ Broken Alarm-clock Blues” ? It starts   “I woke up this Afternoon”

malcolmbebb

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Re: Malcolm Bebb's Koch
« Reply #17 on: November 11, 2015, 06:04:57 PM »

problem, of course, is the wide bellows frames; bellows tape just doesn't come 2 inches wide!

Graham
I had some red leather that I was going to use, until I saw the green bellows paper. Hence the visit to chez Collis-Bird to get some advice on alternative materials.
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Dino BPII.
"Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire."

Nick Collis Bird

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Re: Malcolm Bebb's Koch
« Reply #18 on: November 15, 2015, 08:21:13 AM »

Continuing this thread. How important is this machine? I was thinking that I might doctor it for steam punk. Would that be sacrilege? It would still be playable of course but just have bits and pieces added on. :o
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Has anyone heard of the song. “ Broken Alarm-clock Blues” ? It starts   “I woke up this Afternoon”

malcolmbebb

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Re: Malcolm Bebb's Koch
« Reply #19 on: November 15, 2015, 11:03:42 AM »

Well, it's a 1930s pressed wood G/C box with wide bellows frames. The case says Koch, it has a metal action and Hohner air button, so presumably shortly after Koch got taken over.
So not terribly common, but not vanishingly rare.
Didn't get as far as taking photos...
Condition wise, the casework is in quite good shape but has a number of old wormholes. Action works but is rusty. Has its original buttons, including bass buttons. Fingerboard intact but with some wear and a few extra holes. Pallets have probably not been off. Grille is gone (replacement piece of ply with some holes drilled to be re-united on next visit!).
Bellows as discussed but with a number of character-adding repairs and one known leak, but still not bad for holding air. Original candlewick (?) bellows gasket, but not leaking badly.  Reeds have light surface rust but, on a cursory examination, no major pitting and leather valves in fairly good shape for its age. Original wax. (Bass block stamped 880.) Didn't really check tuning but not wildly out as far as I recall.
So restorable, but not economically.
Presently a battle scarred veteran with a lot of character ;D and a bass to make an ocean liner jealous.
So I wouldn't say any great sacrilege. Sounded rather good with Nick playing it, life in the old dog yet. (Same applies to the melodeon.)
Only comment, if you're going to start thrashing it, you might want think about getting the reeds rewaxed and maybe the springs sorted. For light use it seems to be hanging in there.
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Dino BPII.
"Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire."
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