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Walter Ostanek - Accordion

Part - #3 “A long way to restoration” (By Wouter Vinckers)

In the mean time Harte took care of the right-hand side: cleaning, tuning and all that.

We should have had a closer look at the bellows in the first place, but the two guys were so enthusiastic about their assignments that we overlooked the poor state of that part: it was worse than we thought at first sight. In the end we decided, that, after all the hard work, it was worthwhile to order a complete new bellows in Italy. The original yellow was replaced by a grey-and-black. After this was mounted the instrument had become a really playable accordion.

Later dad still replaced the valve-seals on the right-hand side to get rid of the ‘clicking’ sounds that the keys made, caused by the worn felt parts. As shown on the photo he could not get the right thickness, so all the valves had to be re-adjusted.

Waxing the ‘felt-holders’ for perfect fit

New valveseals, as thin as available

The accordion, now referred to as ‘The Ostanek’, is often used by Rudy Meulen at performances where he and I play together with my brother Matthijs on banjo. We enjoy an increasing amount of fans for Slovenian style polkas in Holland.

Wouter and Matthijs

A long way to restoration

Harte shows what to do next

Thanks to Hans and Wouter Vinckers.

For bookings

www.wouterdepolkaman.nl

For accordion tuning

www.harte-meijer.nl

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