Topic: ...just glue some gears on it ... Koch 'converted' to Steampunk for NickCB (Read 2588 times)

RogerT · « **on:** June 12, 2018, 08:47:00 AM »

A while ago this thread http://forum.melodeon.net/index.php/topic,21173.60.html explored the idea of tarting up what was known as 'Malcolm Bebb's Koch'...a Koch box owned by Malcolm sold to NickCB. He subsequently asked me to turn it into a Steampunk box...so as a bit of fun I did.
FYI I replaced the GC reeds with a new set of Harmonikas DG reeds - the 'cheap' ones which are, much to my surprise, not bad. Getting one or two of the high ones to sound was a bit tricky but I got there. And due to the thick dural bass plates I had to inset the bottom half of the large bass reeds in order to get them to squeeze into the the space adjacent to the chord reeds.
Here are some photos..

https://photos.app.goo.gl/LnQo7Nkqg8qVEiYz6

And this song explains the whole steampunkin process very well.
https://youtu.be/TFCuE5rHbPA

Nick Collis Bird · « **Reply #1 on:** June 12, 2018, 09:06:51 AM »

Good things are worth waiting for.
A fantastic job Rog.😛

Julian S · « **Reply #2 on:** June 12, 2018, 09:45:45 AM »

Quote from: Nick Collis Bird on June 12, 2018, 09:06:51 AM

Good things are worth waiting for.
A fantastic job Rog.😛

Definitely ! Is that a pressure gauge I see ?

J

malcolmbebb · « **Reply #3 on:** June 12, 2018, 09:58:59 AM »

Quote from: RogerT on June 12, 2018, 08:47:00 AM

a Koch box owned by Malcolm

~~sold to~~ blagged by NickCB.

Quote

He subsequently asked me to turn it into a Steampunk box...so as a bit of fun I did.

Looks like a terrific job - I shall have a more thorough look later, and hope to inspect it in the flesh when next down that way.

I had an old Club I'd planned to do something similar with - quite glad I didn't now.

RogerT · « **Reply #4 on:** June 12, 2018, 10:51:51 AM »

Quote from: Julian S on June 12, 2018, 09:45:45 AM

Quote from: Nick Collis Bird on June 12, 2018, 09:06:51 AM
Good things are worth waiting for.
A fantastic job Rog.😛

Definitely ! Is that a pressure gauge I see ?

J

It's a pretend one....

Tone Dumb Greg · « **Reply #5 on:** June 12, 2018, 11:00:52 AM »

Quote from: RogerT on June 12, 2018, 10:51:51 AM

Quote from: Julian S on June 12, 2018, 09:45:45 AM
Quote from: Nick Collis Bird on June 12, 2018, 09:06:51 AM
Good things are worth waiting for.
A fantastic job Rog.😛

Definitely ! Is that a pressure gauge I see ?

J
It's a pretend one....

Could a real one be feasible?

RogerT · « **Reply #6 on:** June 12, 2018, 11:12:13 AM »

It might be a bit big and heavy. I had to try and balance decoration versus usability - you don't want stuff sticking out too far or that will get in the way of playing the thing. But I did manage to get its boiler lit...

Nick Collis Bird · « **Reply #7 on:** June 12, 2018, 03:11:36 PM »

Careful what you say Rog, we are talking about Malcolm Bebb’s old Koch here !

Nick Collis Bird · « **Reply #8 on:** June 13, 2018, 04:19:51 PM »

I’m surprised there’s not been much feedback on what I would consider an amazing piece of playable art.

malcolmbebb · « **Reply #9 on:** June 13, 2018, 04:23:12 PM »

Waiting to hear you play it :-)

Nick Collis Bird · « **Reply #10 on:** June 13, 2018, 04:25:49 PM »

Haha! Malcolm , Roger hasn’t delivered it yet but I’m sure you’ll be one of the first to “have a go”

If you can light the boiler that is.

Garry Probert · « **Reply #11 on:** June 13, 2018, 08:52:15 PM »

Quote

I’m surprised there’s not been much feedback on what I would consider an amazing piece of playable art.

I watched the video and still dont really understand what it is. I sort of want all the parts to actally work

Not really a fan of frippery but thats probebly why the little woman calls me mr shabby,perhaps I need some steam punking lol

Tone Dumb Greg · « **Reply #12 on:** June 13, 2018, 09:10:34 PM »

I love the way it looks. I just like it when stuff does stuff

Jesse Smith · « **Reply #13 on:** June 13, 2018, 10:02:51 PM »

This has got me thinking, though... What would it take to create some kind of portable, steam powered diatonic push-pull calliope organ? Presuming one is comfortable wearing a steam engine on their chest.

Or perhaps such a thing actually existed at some point?

Tone Dumb Greg · « **Reply #14 on:** June 13, 2018, 10:10:51 PM »

Here you go, Jesse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odMCKR54VRc

Broadland Boy · « **Reply #15 on:** June 13, 2018, 10:36:45 PM »

Nick, how is the top hat conversion progressing for your 'tiddler'

Roger, (with pedant mode on), it looks like you might have some trouble with those gear chains, some being cut in D/G and some being C/F

Jesse - steam conversion is fairly simple if you happen to have one of those tree felling or whale beheading saws hanging around to drive the bellows although it might limit what tunes can be played at the right pace...........

Nick Collis Bird · « **Reply #16 on:** June 14, 2018, 06:14:49 AM »

Quote from: Broadland Boy on June 13, 2018, 10:36:45 PM

Nick, how is the top hat conversion progressing for your 'tiddler'

Aaah I’d forgotten that, I’ll get to work on it Richard.

RogerT · « **Reply #17 on:** June 15, 2018, 06:38:49 AM »

Obviously it’s just a bit o fun. But I was trying to avoid it looking like it just had a few gears glued on (I don’t really know if I managed that...I’ve been staring at it for too long), but at the same time keep it practical and functional, and not taking weeks to transform it. In the back of my mind I have an idea to decorate accordions within a given theme e.g. a Mondrian theme, or a Cubist theme (say), to create something unique, where the look of it is maybe more important than its use. This was an interesting exercise, being more akin to finishing a painting than a functional restoration. I found it much harder and more challenging than straight forward restoration, and it took me ages, learning the process. I’d probably do some conceptual drawings next time and treat it as an exercise in sculpture rather than music instrument restoration. If it had been my box I’d have been a bit less restrained possibly, but I was also working out what might or might not look ok. And I didn’t want Nick saying 'what the **** have you done to my Koch' or similar

. Anyway, to emphasise, it’s just a bit of harmless fun.

malcolmbebb · « **Reply #18 on:** September 09, 2018, 10:07:36 PM »

Well, having had a chance to get my hands on it - not something I would choose to say in the other thread - I thought it played very nicely and sounded good, and I enjoyed playing it for a while. And sounded good listening to Nick playing it.
Standard Harmonikas D/G reed set, I believe?

I thought the Steampunkisation (

) was sympathetic to the original box, at some risk to its own durability perhaps. It stopped short of a full refurb, but that would be a much bigger job. It certainly got a number of interested comments. A very definite conversation piece.
So a bit of fun and a very playable box.

Helena Handcart · « **Reply #19 on:** September 09, 2018, 10:13:52 PM »

Quote from: malcolmbebb on September 09, 2018, 10:07:36 PM

Well, having had a chance to get my hands on it - not something I would choose to say in the other thread - I thought it played very nicely and sounded good, and I enjoyed playing it for a while. And sounded good listening to Nick playing it.
Standard Harmonikas D/G reed set, I believe?

I thought the Steampunkisation ( ) was sympathetic to the original box, at some risk to its own durability perhaps. It stopped short of a full refurb, but that would be a much bigger job. It certainly got a number of interested comments. A very definite conversation piece.
So a bit of fun and a very playable box.

A nice box top play. I gave it a quick burst of 'Swaggering Boney' (Longborough, of course) outside the Cornish Bakery after you had wisely proceeded to the Bourne River (wider than a mile) stand. Proper Hohner sound.

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Author Topic: ...just glue some gears on it ... Koch 'converted' to Steampunk for NickCB (Read 2588 times)