Hi Everyone

I've a Crabb anglo in need of a pair of new straps. Can anyone point me in the direction of someone who can supply straps that are lettered with the "Crabb" logo? Any suggestions welcomed, please.

The only person I know who embosses the name into handstraps in the UK is Steve Dickinson. He may be prepared to do it for a Crabb.
Edited to add: or you could contact Geoff Crabb of course.

Steve only does it on Wheatstones, and even then he only has a small WHEATSTONE&CO stamp that hardly shows up.

You'd have to go to Geoff Crabb if you want a Crabb stamp, and ask him very nicely.

Do Crabb straps often have a logo? Neither of my Crabb concertinas have them, and I can't recall seeing one that has - although admittedly I've not been looking.

No, they don't.

I don't know about "often", but a Crabb I once owned had them.

Here is a photo of one of the endplates.

Will Duke's Crabb has Crabb gilt embossed handstraps. Since they have a "Crabb, London N1" address, I presume they're from the Liverpool Road era, but possibly Geoff Crabb still has the irons?

Alex

Which is why I suggested asking him very nicely...

After all, he's not advertising his services as a strap maker, and I know that Crabb's didn't do the gold-tooling themselves, they used to send it out (or so I was told at Crabb's!)

And one now on Ebay

I was hoping nobody would notice that one (so I could buy it!)

But the vast majority of Crabbs don't have a logo on the straps, including Geoff's new ones (as far as I've seen).

Thanks for those suggestions and replies, everyone - it looks like I'd better content myself with a set of ordinary straps, but a great instrument (Bb/F). Thanks again - Tony

Usually, embossed hand straps were only fitted to more expensive or 'special' instruments.

Where the name was employed e.g , 'H crabb & Son' or 'Crabb' then this work was always entrusted to outside guilders.
(That firm has long since gone).

If a pattern (as sometimes seen on the bellows) was used then this was done in-house.

Due to the increasing number of suppliers of concertina spares, I do not supply replacement straps as I like to concentrate on making the odd instrument now and then and responding to the ever increasing requests for info.

Any good book binder or restorer should be able to emboss a pair of straps but I would stress that a direct copy of the original is preferred.

Geoff.

Note to those awaiting replies elsewhere, be patient I am slowly getting round to them.