Instrument Cases:
            Your Instrument is a piece of history!
             Protect your investment with a case.

    Prices begin at $150. Send an email to info@VictorianAccordeon for further details and quote.
      Please click on the pictures below to see more images (Note: Instrument(s) Not included)

 
 


Bellows:

The following information has been complied by disassembling bellows, research, experience, etc..

Only hot hide glue is used in the construction of the bellows.

Although there is not a hard and fast rule concerning the number of bellows folds, most of the earlier instruments have four (4) not counting the bellows folds that are attached to the sides (one to the Left-hand side where the air key and base (socle) are, and one to the Right-hand side where the reeds, keys, etc. are) and most of the latter, and bigger instruments have more bellows folds.

The boards we use are archival quality museum board which has most of the same properties such as being 100% cotton fiber, acid and lignin free with the additional protection of buffering agents to stabilize the pH. The original construction of the boards, unlike a concertina which have separate sections, is one long, continuous run per side (2 short, 2 long). The boards must be precisely scored (cut approximately one-half way through the board, with equidistant cuts being made, and alternately centered between the opposite side so as to fold up perfectly stacked on top of themselves. They are then cut to length, beveled and held in the jig. Special fiber paper that is extremely thin is formed into corner caps that join the 90 degree corners of the boards together and aide in the stability and air-tightness of the completed bellows.

Inside peaks (folded board) are reinforced with buckram (linen tape) so as to allow the folds to hinge.

Only best quality tan pneumatic leather (hair sheep) is used for both gussets, and top-runs. Whole skins are purchased as not all the leather can be used due to positioning factors, specifically where the leather must stretch e.g. the top-runs must be positioned to stretch in the width (short sides of the peaks) so that as the bellows open, they stretch/hinge.

Decorative papers are made, cut, and glued onto the bellows from peak, through the valley, to peak, for each fold, and on all four sides.

Once complete, the outside bellows folds are trimmed to size so that they can be glued to the instrument’s inside sides.