Does anyone know who is currently making a metal hinged bellows hinge like this?
http://homepage2.nifty.com/uilleann/GWbe1.jpg
Please let me know if you do.
Cheers! Richard
Geoff
Joe Kennedy does those.
djm
D Quinn, but I don’t know how to reach him
Can anyone PM me with David Quinn and Geoff Wollf’s contact info.
I want to see if I can get one of these hinges.
Many thanks! Richard
Why don’t you PM Mr. Quinn yourself. He’s on this forum: DMQuinn.
I used to have a long bellows like that but found it would catch up against the mainstock and push it out.So I now have a short bellows which is fine
RORY
I have a hinged-bellows from Joe like that as well. Mechanically, it is excellent as it gives a smooth motion of the bellows. However, I have noticed what Rory pointed out in that it is a bit long and can drive into my mainstock.
You should consider talking to Joe Kennedy about it.
Regars,
Virgil
I think not everyone likes the bellows hinge. My guess is that there are a few drawbacks to them (some discussed here). Otherwise we would see a lot more of them. Some of the current top pipemakers seem to not build them this way except on special order.
Richard,
Do you want this for aesthetics, function or both?
Some say the biggest drawback to a metal hinge is it scrapes the stock.
The metal hinges I’ve seen are on hand stitched bellows (they seem to go together) and the shape is long and oval.
The leather hinged, tacked bellows seem to be a bit shorter and rounder. Maybe it’s an illusion because the wood is visible where the leather gets attached so the neck ‘appears’ longer.
While it controls side movement better than a leather hinge, it’s also more restrictive when reaching for the drones. I’m sure the belt thickness, tightness, placement has much to do with it also.
C J Dixon is doing a slightly different metal hinge on tacked bellows.
http://cjdixon.com/
If your bellows maker (who makes the metal hinge) offers a clip type arm strap (instead of the belt) would you get that too?
I have the metal hinge on my Dixon bellows, and it plays very nicely…very smooth. Can’t comment on whether it scrapes the stock or whatever…it’s just a practice set for now.
i have a dixon half set with a brass hinge on the bellows and i dont have a problem with them but cjs hinges are quite light and streamlined.mike
If your bellows are scraping your stock your hose connecting the bellows to the bag is too short. Also, the position of the bellows does not have to to be lined up parallel to your waist. You can easily tip the front end of it up. There really is no reason for the bellows to cause problems if you are set up correctly.
djm