I just received a "Woodstock Kid's Concertina" the other day and thought that it might be of interest here. It is a made of plastic with no wooden parts. It has brass reeds and is anglo type instrument; set up more like a melodeon than a concertina with 7 buts on the right side and 3 on the left one being an air valve and the othe two a bass note and chord. I got it through Mud Pie Productions but it is made by a company called Woodstock Percussion, Inc. www.chimes.com
This isn't going to hurt any of the current builders but for $30 it's cute as a button. You can see it by going to: http://www.my-occ.net/wp/cat/music_index.html It is at the bottom of the page.
Have any of you seen this? By the way it's made in China.

Howie

Opps! I just realize that you have to click on "new for 2004" on the left side of the page then look at the bottom of the page. Howie

Similar models are sold by many folks as Hero, Schillying, etc. No doubt the same factory. I saw them on Olvera Street in central LA a year ago for cheaper than anywhere else (and some cool colors too, even purple!); I may fall for one when I am in L.A. next month! They are fun if very air-hungry, I have a red one somewhere back in Indiana.

Hey, I bought mine on Olvera Street, about 5 years ago ! They were on a toy stall and the lady seemed pretty surprised when I picked it up and started to play tunes on it.

Now I buy them 2 cartons at a time and sell lots of them in my shop.

Neat! A concertina you could play in a hot tub!

Now if only the NESI still had a hot tub.

I almost got one of these for my nephew 2 years ago, but then I realized I don't want my brother and sister-in-law to hate me that much!

My wife also wouldn't let me get it for myself.


Steven

These are neat little instruments - if you open them up, you can tape off one bank of reeds for a "dry" sound. I think there's a document on the Web that details this procedure, but I haven't looked for it for years.

You can also get these in "D" from one source that I know of - www.irishdancemaster.com. This company imports Chinese button accordions, and has made a deal with the factory for a batch of the 7-button minis in D. The only downside is that they're more expensive ($40).

Best,

Tim Hall