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You're right As you say yourself: Tulle is 100km east of Périgueux. So how are you so sure that they are one and the same?? As I could only find the one, and my "map of" seems quite thorough, and I obviously can't tell east from west, and it was first thing in the morning, and it's been a hot and sticky night, thats why I was so sure! You're right, there are probably dozens of them.

Before we start organising pilgrimages, It is good to know that there is another Lachenal in France (about 10 km west of Périgueux). I have attached a map from a route-planner. On this map another place with an interesting name can be found: Abc As Tulle is about 100 k east of Périgueux I am sure they are one and the same

Stephen, I find your discovery of the “Chenal” family extremely interesting. As you noticed, the dictionary (The Oxford-Hachette Concise French Dictionary) gave “Le Chenal” (masculine noun) it made me wonder whether we can therefore assume “Lachenal” is a contraction of "La Famille Chenal" ? The “ book I once read” – Xavier de Planhol’s “ An historical geography of France” referring to late medieval place names gives on Page 141 “, these are formed with the articles Le-, La- or Les-and they refer to a person or family group. If indeed Louis Lachenal is proved to be of French descent then a further line of enquiry might be towards a Huguenot connection (as suggested, if somewhat erroneously, by an earlier correspondent). It is a fact that French Protestants did represent the most capable of Louis XIV’s subjects, many of them skilled artisans and many fleeing to Switzerland – (did they found the Swiss watch industry?). I am certain there will be a Swiss Huguenot society, which could be approached for information. Of course the “Revocation of the Edict of Nantes” which triggered their departure from France was in 1685 and not contemporary with Louis Lachenal’s emigration to England. NB please don’t assume any expertise from the above, I know as little about linguistics as I do about toponymics, I am not however, claiming to be uninterested in them, but am just throwing a few ideas around - for what they are worth. red

The City of Geneva is in a spur of Switzerland almost entirely surrounded by France, so has probably always had a strong French connection. The town of Annemasse for example functions as a suburb of Geneva and I know two people from SW France who have spent all or part of their working lives there. On the other hand it should be noted after the 100 years war large areas of South West France were depopulated by the activities of the English. Subsequentley when the area was repopulated, settlements were named after the family groups that settled there - this can be seen by names such as Chez Coudret, Chez Jamais, Chez Paris etc. there are hundreds. So it is possible that the village of Lachenal was named after the family that settled there rather than the Lachenal family coming from that place. Although of course both are possible. I'll add here that I am not an expert in French Toponymics I just happened to read the above in a book once. Also, from the dictionary; Le Chenal - The channel. I hope the above of some interest and perhaps some use. rouge

Al, your search for the smell reminded me of an apocryphal tale. A woman discovered her man was having an affair. They had a row and she decided to move out, but before leaving from the flat they shared, she took down a fancy brass curtain rail removed the end, packed it with prawns, put back the end and replaced the rail. The new lover moved into the flat and they enjoyed a few days of bliss despite occasionally noticing a faint fishy smell. Day by day the smell grew stronger, and despite constant searching and industrial strength cleaning they were unable to eliminate what was by now a stench. They had no choice but to give notice and quit, taking all of their possessions of course, including the curtain rail.

I'd like to set the key height on my Gremlin anglo, using the excellent advice in Mr Elliot's manual. For anyone not familiar with this brand it's an economy model produced by Hobgoblin about 30 years ago. According to Andrew Norman who was involved in the initial run they were very keen to keep the production costs down and this no doubt accounts for the fact that the the levers are 1/16 brass rod flattened and pierced at the pivot. My concern is - whether they are likely to snap at the pivot point - has anyone any experience of this procedure? I'd be grateful for any advice.

With any screws where there is a danger of slipping - it will be found that as long a screwdriver as is practical will ensure proper alignment with the screw head and minimise error when turning. Its a given that the the tip should be a snug fit, and it only takes a few moments to file a tip to size. With rusted screws heating the tip and then applying it to the screw will help to loosen it. Working the screw in a little as well as out will be found of advantage.

[Jim has suggested, privately, that I should have written "Although you didn't say so, do you also believe that the other non-hexagonal designs are just 'gimmicks'? And I apologise to Frank if I caused him any offence. I didn’t say that because it seems to me that if you state that a round concertina is a gimmick then the 8 and 12 sided are also gimmicks, as surely they are steps along the road to the round concertina. And if there is no practical advantage to the round then there is none to the 8/12. Presumably there was some perceptible marketable advantage to the more than six sided instruments? As m3838 has stated;- “I also disagree that 8-10-12 sided instruments were marketing gimmicks. I think it was an attempt to bring instruments to sought round shape for believed advantage in sound.” Was the perceived advantage the progressive uniformity of the chambers? Surely purchasers had to be persuaded of some advantage over the hexagon? People will not part with money for what they think of as a gimmick. Surely they had to hear the difference? As to the difficulty of construction – by coincidence I was in friend’s workshop last week. He is a specialist in antique clock cases and was making a drum in mahogany for a mid 19c mantle clock – about 6 inches in diameter. He had coopered the segments to form a multi faceted polygon and then turned it true on the lathe – he didn’t think it a big deal. I suspect that this is how the round instrument under discussion is constructed, but it would be useful to know this and whether veneered.

Frank, are you stating that anything other than a hexagonal concertina is essentially a gimmick? Are there no advantages to any other format? Frank can answer for himself, of course, but whatever he may believe, he didn't say that, or anything even suggesting it. His comment mentioned only the circular design as a "gimmick". Well yes, I thought I asked Frank a question, I am interested to receive his reply.

Frank, are you stating that anything other than a hexagonal concertina is essentially a gimmick? Are there no advantages to any other format?

That looks like an interesting experiment. I assume that the ketchup contains some weak acid(s) in low concentration. Can you describe exactly the effect(s) that you observed? On the ball, Henk. The ketchup, like many foodstuffs including a certain very well-known soft drink, contains phosphoric acid. The effect was to clean off all of the surface gunk but needing a little boiling water to clean off the ketchup. After which, the now-warmed reed soon evaporates off any water. An interesting side-effect was that the brass was left somewhat red. Not an effect of the tomatoes but the phosphoric acid etching away the zinc content from the alloy to leave the copper, but only to the depth of a molocule or two. Those who keep up with the news will recall that there is now a phosphoric acid rich area in the english channel just perfect for reed dunking! If you dont want to risk a reed, try a coin or other small metal object, seems to work as well with ferrous and non-ferrous metal.>

Why not put 'em on the bar-b-q and roast the little buggers. No really, I think the stiff paper alone is so simple and works the best if you want something quick and effective. Jody Now its a funny thing you should mention the bar-b-q, but I've just experimented with dipping them in tomato ketchup overnight!! It works suprisingly well and a little light boiling afterwards does no harm at all.

Would a good boiling clean a reed without affecting it? I know it sounds radical and I suggest it in my innocence/ignorance, but why not?

They are always a "Good Night's Fun", we've seen them several times including, quite unexpectedly, a blues festival in a field!!! Catch their dates at http://www.lastnightsfun.com/gig_guide.html

I didn't say I dislike all guitar, though I generally dislike all guitar. Or bouzouki, piano, etc.. There are a few -- too few, IMO -- really great accompanists, who work with the "lead" player, and who vary their style to match/enhance the tune and the style of the lead. I agree with all that, there are indeed very few who can accompany with feeling let alone tact. At a session I go to, there occasionally turns up a most wonderful singer - Helen Roche - every aspect of her singing is perfection, but we have a guitar raider - who, tuning head to the fore, barges through the throng to swamp her perfection in his plucking and strumming. It is truley outrageous and I find it an act of supreme will to stop the red mist rising.