25 replies to this topic

[SteveS]

Hello
Sorry my English is not the best.
I am the seller of the concertina.
I have no knowledge of the concertina.
The concertina was locked in a closet until the present day.
The previous deal did not work because Mr. Chris Algar claimed that the concertina did not meet their expectations, with a loss of EUR 1000 for me (fees, transportation, insurance ...).
In my opinion, those who bid so high a value must contact the seller before to check every detail of the object.
I give you a link to more pictures I took now.
I am available for any clarification and if necessary provide further details.
I know that previous images on ebay may have misled the persons concerned, but I tell you that was not my intention.
I was always careful to give all the details of the concertina.
Thank you for your interest.


https://plus.google.com/photos/100147050135263134978/albums/5734516124998656673

(You can download the pictures and zoom in your computer)

regards,
Sergio Soares

Sergio,
there is talk of a bad crack in one end of your concertina... could you include a picture of the under sides of the pieces of wood which have the keys (buttons) and levers fitted to ?

This might make clear what else is wrong with the concertina and perhaps give confidence to those people who might want to bid for it.

good luck,
Geoff.

Sergio - I see from the pictures there appear to be some broken reeds - can you say how many reeds are broken?
Thanks, Steve

Edited by SteveS, 23 April 2012 - 01:54 PM.

[ssoares]

Geoff Thanks for your advice.
I've taken more pictures and i send them now at this link:

https://plus.google....690345188556417

Steve by my knowledge, I can tell you there are two broken reeds. They all have a thin layer of rust.

Best Regards,
Sergio Soares

[SteveS]

Geoff Thanks for your advice.
I've taken more pictures and i send them now at this link:

https://plus.google.com/photos/100147050135263134978/albums/5734690345188556417

Steve by my knowledge, I can tell you there are two broken reeds. They all have a thin layer of rust.

Best Regards,
Sergio Soares

Thanks Sergio
Looks to me like there are a few serious cracks in the ends some of which appear go right through from the inside.
Also the laminates of the ends appear to have separated with cracking on the inside, some cracks between the button holes. I wonder if these cracks go through the laminations. I wonder if the laminated layers have separated across the ends.
The laminations have also separated away from the end hoops and have even broken away in places where they join the end hoops.
Steve

[ssoares]

sorry Steve, my ignorance. What do you mean with the laminations?
do you mean the black edge around the Amboyna wood?
Some corners of the black edge are broken as shown in the photos.

[SteveS]

sorry Steve, my ignorance. What do you mean with the laminations?
do you mean the black edge around the Amboyna wood?
Some corners of the black edge are broken as shown in the photos.

Sergio

The ends are made of 3 layers of thin wood - the 2 outer layers are veneer, and the layer between them is usually thicker. Animal glue is used to stick the layers together. The combined layers gives the ends strength and it will keep its shape.

If the layers separate (this can happen if the instrument has been stored in a damp or hot environment), then the strength is less than when new. It is possible for all of the layers to become separated in extreme cases. Also this can cause the ends to warp and splits to appear. The layers can also separate from the edges, for example where they join the end hoops, and at the bolts. This is probably why the edges are cracked and broken. With incorrect storage, or even with the effects of ageing or decay, the animal glue can become weak and have an effect on the ends; in some pictures the ends in places appear to be lifting away from the end hoops.

These repairs can be very difficult, and can take very many hours of work to repair, and may even need completely new ends depending how bad the problems are, and so this work can be very expensive. The outer veneer is amboyna: this makes repair work harder and more difficult since any repairer would probably want to keep this.

I have seen instruments with ends so poor and decayed, they have turned to dust.

Hope this helps.
Steve

Edited by SteveS, 24 April 2012 - 10:47 AM.

[JimLucas]

These repairs can be very difficult, and can take very many hours of work to repair, and may even need completely new ends depending how bad the problems are, and so this work can be very expensive.

In non-technical terms, even though your concertina once was almost certainly among the best of the best, simply restoring it to its former glory could well be more expensive than it could eventually be sold for.

Because of what it is -- or once was, and might be again -- a skilled craftsperson might consider it a labor of love to put in the work to restore it for their personal use, in spite of the financial loss (if they include the value of their time), but not if they have to pay a premium price before they even start the work.

[Chris Drinkwater]

Didn't sell. No last minute bidder(s), so still for sale, presumably. Wait until he possibly re-advertises it on Ebay or make him a reasonable offer now?

Chris

[SteveS]

These repairs can be very difficult, and can take very many hours of work to repair, and may even need completely new ends depending how bad the problems are, and so this work can be very expensive.

In non-technical terms, even though your concertina once was almost certainly among the best of the best, simply restoring it to its former glory could well be more expensive than it could eventually be sold for.

Because of what it is -- or once was, and might be again -- a skilled craftsperson might consider it a labor of love to put in the work to restore it for their personal use, in spite of the financial loss (if they include the value of their time), but not if they have to pay a premium price before they even start the work.

Subsequently, when I looked closer at the reeds and frames I could see that they'd been polished - confirmed by the vendor.
There appeared to be ridges on the reed vibrators - possibly resulting from heavy use of a buff - my suspicions are that the reeds may be wrecked.
It may also explain why some reeds are broken.
If this is the case, what a shame.

Edited by SteveS, 12 May 2012 - 07:23 AM.