DerekR

About My Crabb Anglo Hi Again folks Back in February 2007, I asked about my Crabb Anglo, and Geoffrey Crabb kindly offered an insight as to the box's origins. (See link above) I now need to raise some funds, and unfortunately, along with my Wheatstone Anglo, this one has to be moved onto pastures new, and perhaps someone who can use it more than I do. I believe it is Ab/Eb, and has a wonderful rich (and very loud) sound to it. I have attached a couple of images, and once again, would appreciate anyone's advice on the likely value of this wonderful old lady. Regards Derek

Good evening folks I have had to make some decisions lately, and unfortunately, one is that the Wheatstone 30 Key I have been hanging onto as an air loom has to go... Serial No 59014 made on 5th August 1966. I believe this concertina is Ab/Eb. A couple of the notes are a bit "strained" when playing, but other than that, it's in great condition. I am reluctant to put this on Ebay, as I am unsure as to the current market values of instruments such as this, and I would hate for it to just evaporate into the Ethernet for someone to be making money out of it due to my naivety in such matters (It's been in my family since around 1970) (I also have a 30 key Crabb which Geoffrey Crabb has dated at circa 1898,but more of that in another post) Can any of you kind folks advise on a likely price this box might sell for? Many thanks in advance. Derek

John Many thanks for that - I'm off to my piano now, and hopefully, I'll shortly know what these two old boxes are pitched in! Derek

I'm just a "play by ear" concertina player, and can get a decent tune out of anything put in front of me, but I do get confused about the key in which tina's are tuned to. I own a Crabb 30 key (dated circa 1890 by Geoff Crabb a while back) and a 30 Key Wheatstone dated circa 1966. (I also own a Wheatstone 46 key Duet) Problem I have, is that I simply don't know the tuning of these two anglos! Can any of you kind people advise me on how I can tell what they are tuned to? Thanks in advance Derek

My other half has just beem mopping all my drool up off the floor here while I was looking at those pictures

I was just looking at that wonderous beast in admiration, and she-who-must-be-obeyed asked me why I wanted a "bigger one" She obviously does not understand the man's way of thinking at a statement like that!! :lol:

I got some socks.

Welcome to the world of priveleged Crabb owners! Take good care of that magnificent instrument, learn to play it, and it will give you years of imense pleasure as mine has for me.

One 1897 30 Key Crabb Anglo One 1966 30 Key Wheatstone Anglo One 1927 46 Key Wheatstone Duet

At the turn of the last centuary, Loyal Orange Lodge's were in abundance in Liverpool, many of them being headed up by their own Concertina Bands. I was personally, a member of one of the largest concertina bands, which along with many have now become defunct. I do recall one band in particular had those markings on their concertinas, as I belive the band bought the tina's, and the members were able to lease purchase them off the band at 0% interest. Our band, named "The Ivy", had a similar purchasing scheme, but as I remember, the boxes were only ever recorded by description. In the mid 1960's when I was inducted into the band as a new Anglo player, keen to learn, there were about 40 Concertina players in the band and about 12 percussion players. A big band that made a wonderful noise! Each box player owned their own instruments (other band merely loaned the boxes out to members). The marking you have shown in the image, I think belonged to a band called "The Derry Walls Concertina Band" who used to record all the instruments as they purchased them and sold them on to the members. The markings certainly don't represent anything of "a set", they were just simply a method of recording each instrument. As there were approximately 60 or 70 Concertina bands in Liverpool up till the end of the 60's early 70's, this may well have applied to many of the bands that no longer exist. I would guess that over the years spanning Concertina Bands in Liverpool, there must have been many thousands of instruments of all makes and types pass through this city (There are still a small number of Concertina Bands playing in the city, but nothing like the numbers there were)

I too concur with all the above advice - I inherited my Grandfather's beloved Wheatstone 46 Key Duet. No amount of money will part me from it. It's been in our family since 1927, and has brought many, many hours of pleasure to both him, and myself since I learned to play it way back in about 1968. My Grandfather is inside that instrument. I love it like I love my children. I'm hoping my daughter will want to learn to play it one day. Now, the 30 Key Wheatstone and 30 Key Crabb Anglo's I also own would be hard to part with, but I eventually will sell them if they start gathering cobwebs - my Duet though, never ever ever will I part with that.

I stand corrected - apologies if any offence caused. I look through ebay regularly, and pehaps I should have taken note of the serial numbers. I guess there are some genuine sellers of tinas on there after all!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wheatstone-Anglo-Con...1QQcmdZViewItem This must be about the 5th time I've seen this Wheatstone on ebay this year. No doubt some poor buggers have been relieved of their cash trying to buy it

If my memory serves me correctly, that was up for sales some weeks ago from someone based in Cheshire (UK) - now it's appeared over in the USA. I think it went initially for around the £2500 mark.

Once more the name Crabb adorns a peice of beauty. As you may remember, I own an 1897 Crabb Anglo. I have no doubt that that work of art will last the same period of time as mine given the right owner(s) Congratulations Geoff. Derek