michael rowbotham

Hi Pat, I've sent you a personal meesage! Cheers! Mike R

Just wanted to add a word - I was lucky enough to buy Christians previous concertina - the Crabb Jeffries. Apart from saying he's a top guy, and very trustworthy, in all the discussions we had Christian took great trouble to describe the concertina fairly, hiding nothing - for instance the photos he showed were the 'worst' reeds (most were mint) he pointed out where gluing/repairs had been carried out. This was useful because he's not a player himself. So anyone who's interested in this model of concertina, I can personally vouch that although not coming from a 'playing' source, there's a good chap at the other end. And just to concur with others, yes it looks like a 30 button mahogany Lachenal in pretty nice condition.

Well spotted - yes it's a scam. I bought the original, genuine item about 4 months ago - the photos and text are lifted from that listing. I've informed Ebay. Blimey, but you lot are hot! PS Sorry - should add the original lisitjng was 7357847791.

Just wanted to add a follow-up to this thread, rather overdue as I've been away from home. I was the lucky chap to whom Christian sold this concertina. It duly arrived and is just as Christian described it. Having had a chance to examine it thoroughly, the ends, action and reeds are clearly all C Jeffries, from around the 1890 period. The only part of the concertina I'm not convinced is original are the bellows... There is an internal ink-stamp - H Crabb and Sons - which (if my memory serves) would be from post 1912. I suspect the bellows are Crabb replacements - the depth of fold, green bellows papers and hinges suggest this. I am obviously delighted with the instrument - only fine-tuning, pads, valves and 'tweaking' necessary. Christian and I became firm friends over this - can you imagine the stress of sending all that cash to a swiss bank account, then just waiting...! He kept reassuring me, and was as good as his word throughout. Christian comes across antiques and instruments from time to time, and I promised him I would leave this message in case he should ever find himself offering a similarly valuable item on Cnet or eslewhere on the internet. Christian, I found to be utterly trustworthy and a delightful person to deal with. Anyone who ever wishes can contact me for verification. Incidentally, I have found out I am not the first Cnet member who has had the pleasure of dealing with him. Thanks Christian and thanks Cnet (and Paul!)

If anyone's interested - I've got two of them at home ...

Hi Chris, thanks for your comments and well wishes - and sympathy! Yes, it's always hard letting an instrument go. You get so attached to them and each concertina is so individual - plus the fact that my Dipper hasn't arrived yet to console me! Mike

I am selling my 30 button Crabb, dated 1896. This was my main instrument until recently but with the purchase of a 38 button Dipper it has to make way. The concertina is in excellent condition - see attached photos. It is fast and responsive and I guess it has been very little played in its life. The action is easy and the sound is nice and even across the reeds. The bellows are original and in beautiful condition. I suspect that the pads, which I have never needed to change, are actually the original ones! It has recently been fine-tuned and re-valved. The only external label on the concertina is the stamp - “Ball Beavon & Co. London“. However, inside the concertina there is a Crabb serial number (8526) which Geoffrey Crabb has told me relates to an instrument made by the Crabb Company in 1896. There is a thread on Cnet (somewhere) which explains that Ball Beavon was a musical instrument retailer who took instruments from both Jeffries and Crabb and put his own stamp on them. (The web-site of Homewood concertinas has archive photos of a very similar instrument to this one). Potential buyers can contact me direct at microbot@microbot.f9.co.uk or through Cnet. I can send additional photographs and some MP3 sound files of the concertina. Buyer is responsible also for shipping and insurance costs.

Hi Paul, I had the pleasure of examining your 28 button jeffries as it passed through Alistair's hands (we live next door to each other - is this fair on the neighbours?) and yes, I'm sure that it was previously bone-buttoned, again going from the fret-hole size. It's a really snappy and punchy beast for a G/D and I'm not surprised you're delighted. Can there be any other type of instrument that actually makes people physically drool when they see a good 'un! Have you had a look at the reeds? Was it originally G/D or Ab/Eb?

Brown bellows papers, plus deep staining from exposure to air swilling with pure Guiness and essence of woodbines - gotta be. Guess we'll bore people if we go on about the 'Stayton Jeffries'- I'll be in touch again direct in a few weeks when I've got some recordings, Mark - cheers for now.

Dear Mark, Ah - hah! ... So that's what the CJ12 was about! There's me thinking this was one of a row of 'specials' that Charlie hoarded lovingly in a back room! What are your thoughts on whether these are the original buttons? And how about the possibility that the buttons were replaced during a return visit to Jeffries during the Aldershot Rd period, hence the second stamp? It's clearly an early instrument. If it went back to the company for work, it wasn't the bellows that were replaced - they're vintage 1880s/90s. Of course, the concertina might have been tuned, but would they have re-stamped for a simple tuning or valving? Replacing buttons, however, would have involved more substantial work to the action and the fretted ends, and the wood where the bushing is would have to be replaced. Also, the hand-rails would have been removed - and that's where the stamping is! Hmm, Sherlock - what do you reckon? ... Dr. Watson

Hi Ross ... Glad I removed temptation... I always help out if I can!!! As for bone/metal buttons ... Initially, I was going simply by the size of the holes in the metal end. In most of the metal-buttoned jeffries I've seen/had, the holes are pretty tight to the side of the button, with little of the bushing showing; pretty accurately cut. With this jeffries, there is a fairly generous hole that would suit more closely the slimmer bone buttons that were common on earlier jeffries (not the fat chubby monsters!) You can see this on the photo, the bushing showing clearly. Having played and examined the concertina (almost constantly for 2 days now!) my suspicion is strengthened. The buttons just don't 'feel' like the other jeffries metal buttons; also they are quite proud and stick up a fair way. But althogh I've seen quite a few jeffries, there are many people with loads more expertise and I'm more than happy to be proved wrong on this. The important thing from a musical point of view is the quality of the concertina - it really is a beauty. Incidentally, the concertina also has" C.J. 12 " stamped into the metal just under the handstrap, which I've not seen before.

I wanted to post something having just bought Mark Stayton's Jeffries through the above ad. The concertina arrived today and I've since driven all the neighbours nuts. First, thanks to Mark, who didn't know me from Adam. We got on great, he was extremely easy to communicate with, sending me plenty of helpful photos and soundclips and background on the tina. He was patient whilst my bank yawned and went into slow mode. Actually, the concertina travelled faster than the electronic money! Also, respect for Wally Carroll who, apparently, did some maintenance work on the jeffries a few years back; the work was excellent and the concertina is a credit to him as well as the man himself, C Jeffries. Finally, thanks to C.net for providing the forum through which I was able to get such a lovely instrument - I've had numerous jeffries before, but none better than this. It's a cracking instrument, probably from 1885/90 era. I suspect it was once bone-buttoned;it has a typical batch number (20) inside and C Jeffries Maker stamped in the sidewood as well as the right hand fretted end. I'm not sure how to do smileys, but I'm simply covered in them. I've been without a really good box for a long time and it's so fantastic to be able to play properly again. Thanks Mark.

I agree with first post that this is likely to be a scam. This wheatstone - same serial number, photos etc - was sold about a week ago. It's still listed using the Ebay 'advanced search' option. The winning bidder of THAT auction was not the person currently offering the concertina.

Hi cplayer, I've been trying to contact you by email regarding your handsome-looking anglo. No reply so I'm posting this in hope you get it. I can be contacted direct by email at microbot@microbot.f9.co.uk or by phone on 01736 794582. Thanks Mike R.