Daniel Hersh Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 It's at http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Metal-Ended-Concertina-In-Working-Condition-But-As-Found-Needing-Restore-/390963234788 . Any thoughts on the possible maker? Is it an early Crabb? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 Very likely a John Crabb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex West Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 Daniel It has certain Jeffries features in the fretwork and some of the bellows papers but as Stephen says, it was more than likely made by Crabb Alex West Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrian brown Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 The thing that struck me about it was the apparent 38 button Jeffries/Crabb/Shakespeare layout, but missing the two central "forth row" buttons and perhaps more markedly, any vestige of a LH thumb button. Makes me wonder about the note layout... Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 (edited) The thing that struck me about it was the apparent 38 button Jeffries/Crabb/Shakespeare layout, but missing the two central "forth row" buttons and perhaps more markedly, any vestige of a LH thumb button. Makes me wonder about the note layout... And that's just the button layout Adrian, never mind the note layout which is something nobody can be sure of until they have the instrument in hand... I've only once worked on one (a Jeffries) missing those buttons - though I don't entirely rule out the possibility that this instrument might once have had a LH thumb key, or that one might yet be fitted to it - only that was a long time (maybe 35 years?) ago. But my experience of working on Jeffries and Crabb instruments is that there is no one, "bog-standard" fingering layout for them anyway (in fact there are three fingerings that I would consider "normal" and plenty of "abnormal" ones to be found on Jeffries instruments), and I'm sure other tuners of them "from source" would report the same - but they'd normally leave my hands in what would now be considered "standard Jeffries" fingering, unless the customer wanted something else including (heresy of heresies!) "Wheatstone fingering"... Edited November 3, 2014 by Stephen Chambers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffrey Crabb Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 Although highly probable, without an ID Number I could not claim it to be a Crabb. As Stephen has said, 'there is no "bog-standard" fingering' and that also applies to any make of Anglo. Even Wheatstone published three 'standard' variations over their period of manufacture. I, personally, prefer to use the term 'common' instead of 'standard' for the allocation of notes to buttons on Anglo concertinas. One thing learnt from experience when undertaking re-tuning jobs is to check with the customer if note allocation anomalies are encountered before attempting changes. Of course, it is common sense to carry out such changes to make an instrument more desirable if a sale is intended. Concerning button configuration, this list may be enlightening Geoffrey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann-p Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 Chris Algar looks to have bought it, so perhaps we'll find out soon, unless it's going to go to a waiting customer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Hersh Posted November 9, 2014 Author Share Posted November 9, 2014 Chris Algar looks to have bought it, so perhaps we'll find out soon, unless it's going to go to a waiting customer. For £1600 (about $2500 US), a higher price than I would have guessed it would go for in that condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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