Stephen Selby

Not Altenburg, South Africa right? I was looking at the SA.

I have one. Don't play it much, but occasionally it's been useful. Because the pitch is high, it's a bit breathy.

Bavarian beer festival. Maybe Annfest. Most of the men have traditional pipes.

This is quite funny social commentary. The old biddy outside the door is about to spoil everybody's fun.

Bandoneon reeds are tuned in perfect octaves, except for the highest notes. The instrument is made from very light wood with a big sounding chamber. The left hand (base) side has baffles.

Fair enough. I have a 48 button MacCann from Lachenal dated 1896 available, restored and in modern concert pitch. But the price would be US$1,900. (The date is on a badge on the concertina end showing the date that it was given as a prize.)

I can sell you a Stagi Hayden for US$850 plus cost of shipping from Hong Kong. It was set up by Button Box and sold new in 2010 for US$995. But the case is no longer available. The instrument is in original condition. The Stagi Hayden implementation is not a full one, but it has most of the notes you need. It is still rather stiff to play. Not a great instrument, but ok for a beginner. Discussion here: .

Mr Francis paid 12/6 (twelve shillings and sixpence) in 1905 (around 76 pounds now). Same for the leather box for his concertina. It came in a hexagonal box like a concertina box.

It's a bit pricy, considering that it needs new bellows.

I paid US1,100 for my Rheinische Tonlage ELA bandoneon three years ago. It had been serviced and re-tuned. But it does not go below C in the right hand, so it's not fully Argentinian.

One small point: as others have said, concertinas can be fixed in many ways. But if the long screws (holding the ends to the bellows) have rusted and can't be unscrewed, then you are in for an uphill battle. (Basically, you're screwed.)

Yes. This set is a train wreck. But a good set is useful. I use them myself for cleaning and tuning.

Retuning would be expensive. The one I bought first was in tune with itself but not at modern pitch. I just left it, on the principle that it would be years before I was ready to play work anyone else! Yes, South American bandoneons are tuned a little sharp

Ambro is quoted by those who are top players; but it's a really daunting method for newbies without a teacher at their side. I particularly like Don Benito because within a couple of lessons, you are playing things that you would not mind other people hearing. You need to watch out for another thing: some methods (not Don B ) teach a style that is predominantly pull. To me, that style leads to too much use of the breather lever, which makes for choppy phrasing. Another thing I suggest is to check carefully the tuning. I bought one once which had been accurately re-tuned to 1930s standard pitch, rather than modern European pitch or Argentinian piths (a little bit higher).