Frank Edgley Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 I was very pleased to bump into Steve in Miltown Malbay, about a week ago. I had just finished with the concertina concert and was leaving when I saw someone showing a couple of concertinas to several interested parties. It was a basic model, fairly inexpensive, but a better alternertive to a Stagi. I went over to have a look, and the fellow showing the concertinas said, "Hello, Frank." I was more than a bit surprised, since I didn't recognise him. It was Steve Chambers. We had quite a nice chat, but others were around and our meeting was brief. By the time they had cleared away, Steve was also gone. Next time, Steve, we'll have a pint together! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_mchale Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Its really cool that you could meet Steve.. but what about these concertinas . Ok granted, I am not likely to be looking for a low end concertina... but I have friends that have become somewhat intriqued sine I first started playing and it would be nice if there was a beginner instrument I could actually recommend to them. -- Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Timson Posted July 23, 2005 Share Posted July 23, 2005 Stephen has actually mentioned himself that he is working on them, a couple of times now. I am waiting to hear more too as I want to put something in the FAQ about them when the time comes. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted July 23, 2005 Share Posted July 23, 2005 I want to meet Steven too. People were mentioning Miltown Malbay at the East Durham workshops and I had not heard of it before. Nice to see it spelled out. Well, I'll meet Frank before I meet Steven. And Frank is the dad of my concertina. Now that I have started meeting Cnetters, I want to meet more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted July 25, 2005 Share Posted July 25, 2005 (edited) I was very pleased to bump into Steve in Miltown Malbay, about a week ago.<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hello Frank, I was plesed to meet you too, in fact I've already mentioned it : I ... met Frank Edgley (who played in the Concertina Recital last night with Chris Droney) for the first time. I was showing Frank my new "Triskel" concertinas.<{POST_SNAPBACK}> I had just finished with the concertina concert and was leaving when I saw someone showing a couple of concertinas to several interested parties. It was a basic model, fairly inexpensive, but a better alternertive to a Stagi. I ran into Mick Mulcahy on the way out, whose daughter Michelle was playing in the Recital, and he asked me how my project was going, so I stopped to show him. My intention is to get the basic "Triskel" model manufactured in Germany, and then start building more expensive models myself. The "Triskel" uses German accordion reeds, genuine Wheatstone MayFair mechanisms, leatherette bellows and walnut ends with a simple design. I've been doing some development work on it, to make it sound bright and crisp, which is what most people say they would like. It is designed to be the same size (6 1/4"), feel and spacing as a Wheatstone Anglo (though I can supply them in either Wheatstone or Jeffries fingering), so that a beginner can start with an instrument that feels like a "proper" concertina. The EU price (including Irish VAT) will be Euro599.00 with case, or the export price Euro495.00 (excluding VAT) + carriage. I went over to have a look, and the fellow showing the concertinas said, "Hello, Frank." I was more than a bit surprised, since I didn't recognise him. Well I did have the advantage of having just seen you up on the stage with Chris Droney ! On the other hand, the photo in my profile was taken some 26 years ago (without my knowledge) at the photoshoot for Lea Nicholson's The Concertina Record, and I've changed a bit. I'm afraid I'm rather shy about having my photograph taken (so I don't have many photographs of myself), and even worse, being filmed (I have avoided watching a TV programme about Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh because I'm in it !), but there is a more recent picture of me (with French accordion authority Pierre Monichon) here. It was Steve Chambers. We had quite a nice chat, but others were around and our meeting was brief. By the time they had cleared away, Steve was also gone. It was time to get out of Miltown for the evening, and I'd had a long day with a lot of driving, and a foggy journey back to Kilrush ahead of me. Next time, Steve, we'll have a pint together! Do you fancy coming over for the Mrs. Crotty Festival ? I've already promised Dave Prebble a pint in Crotty's, and I'd better get Neil Wayne one after what I said about the "Mrs. Wayne" concertina, so I could add you to the round ? Edited August 2, 2005 by Stephen Chambers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Edgley Posted July 25, 2005 Author Share Posted July 25, 2005 I'd love to, butcan't manage it. Maybe next year. I let you know when I'm coming over. Till then... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_mchale Posted July 25, 2005 Share Posted July 25, 2005 My intention is to get the basic "Triskel" model manufactured in Germany, and then start building more expensive models myself. The "Triskel" uses German accordion reeds, genuine Wheatstone MayFair mechanisms, leatherette bellows and walnut ends with a simple design. I've been doing some development work on it, to make it sound bright and crisp, which is what most people say they would like. It is designed to be the same size (6 1/4"), feel and spacing as a Wheatstone Anglo (though I can supply them in either Wheatstone or Jeffries fingering), so that a beginner can start with an instrument that feels like a "proper" concertina. The EU price (includig Irish VAT) will be Euro599.00 with case, or the export price Euro495.00 (excluding VAT) + carriage. Stephen, That sounds brilliant; whats even more brilliant is that the price you are suggesting will undercut the mid and upper range Stagis. A really good student instrument is what the concertina world really needs and it sounds like you will provide it. I might have to order one just for curiosity's sake . Can't wait to see some pictures and some hear some sound clips. -- Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted July 25, 2005 Share Posted July 25, 2005 I'd love to, but can't manage it. Maybe next year. ...<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Frank, I think the pint might be a bit flat by then, so I will just have to drink it for you. Oh the hardship ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whomper Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 It is designed to be the same size (6 1/4"), feel and spacing as a Wheatstone Anglo (though I can supply them in either Wheatstone or Jeffries fingering), so that a beginner can start with an instrument that feels like a "proper" concertina. The EU price (includig Irish VAT) will be Euro599.00 with case, or the export price Euro495.00 (excluding VAT) + carriage. This sounds brilliant. My partner and I are both interesting in taking up the anglo concertina (she plays melodeon, I play mandolin), but the starter Stagi models are all so ridiculously large, and we both have small hands (which is why I play a mando, not a bouzouki). We did have a fiddle with a 20-key Lachenal in The Music Room in Clecky, which was a lot more comfortable, both in terms of key spacing and hand-strap style. Are the Wheatstones of a similar scale? Going vintage is a bit intimidating for a first-time buyer, and the price of 30-key vintages is somewhat prohibitive. Any idea when production will hopefully kick off? In time for August next year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 We did have a fiddle with a 20-key Lachenal in The Music Room in Clecky, which was a lot more comfortable, both in terms of key spacing and hand-strap style. Are the Wheatstones of a similar scale?<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi Whomper, And welcome to a fellow Melodeon.netter ! The main rows are nearer to the rail/handle on three row Anglos (to make room for the third row), and the buttons are a bit closer together on a Wheatstone, compared with a Lachenal. Any idea when production will hopefully kick off? In time for August next year? I hope to have some in time for Autumn this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whomper Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 (edited) Hmm! Potential mutual Christmas present there, I fancy. What style straps will you be using? The screw-in-strap-trap style (which the Lachenal had), or the belt-buckle style? I prefer the former. In red, if possible Edited July 27, 2005 by Whomper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whomper Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 Just to reply to myself, I've found a few sites claiming to sell these already, but only really one picture. Any chance of some snaps to whet our appetites? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 (edited) Just to reply to myself, I've found a few sites claiming to sell these already, but only really one picture.<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Well they don't ! Any chance of some snaps to whet our appetites? I shall have to find my camera and take some, the photograph you have seen is of the first prototype. Here's a link to a previous post I made on the subject. They would have been in production sooner, but I lost both my parents last year, then smashed up my ankle, I'm afraid I'm only getting going again now. Edited July 28, 2005 by Stephen Chambers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigsqueezergeezer Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 The link seems to take me to todays forum home page....... Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 The link seems to take me to todays forum home page.......<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks Derek, I'm not sure how that happened , but I've redone it and it works now. (I hope !) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted July 29, 2005 Share Posted July 29, 2005 Link works now. The concertina sounds great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whomper Posted August 1, 2005 Share Posted August 1, 2005 Will you be doing G/D as well as G/C? If so, would they be physically larger, or the same size? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted August 1, 2005 Share Posted August 1, 2005 Will you be doing G/D as well as G/C? If so, would they be physically larger, or the same size?<{POST_SNAPBACK}> They will mostly be C/G's, but I will be doing G/D's too, and maybe some D/A's, all exactly the same size. (Button accordions come in G/C, D/G etc. with the rows a fourth apart, concertinas are made in C/G, G/D etc. with them a fifth apart, the normal convention is for the lowest row to be listed first.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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