I have read the MMD Archives covering past posts on the steamboat
pump.  I am presently starting to rebuild my upright 1917 Duo-Art
Steinway steamboat pump with the 84 flap valves.  The flap valve
leather appears to still be in excellent condition.

My present quandary is just what material, glue, etc., I should
use to reinforce the pump bellows to keep them from popping.  The
references in the Archives all suggest to replace the cardboard
reinforcements but no one went into further detail.

I note that the original bellows were securely stapled and glued
in with the creases reinforced with thin cloth material.  Is this
volume of attachment (cardboard stapled, glued in and reinforced
with cloth at the creases) really needed or have other rebuilders
got by with something different?

I would appreciate some suggestions on this topic.  The last thing
I would want is to have this reinforcement material coming loose
in the future.

Larry Schuette
Raymond, Nebraska