malcolm clapp

Which one???Storage in a cupboard with a LARGE bowl of water is a favourite. The vast majority of Australians live within 30kms or so of the coast, so to most of us down-under there is no problem with the woodwork warping due to lack of humidity. However one player I know in coastal Cairns, Nth Queensland, transfered with his job to outback Mt Isa where just about every glue joint on his anglo failed. Luckily the correct glues had been used and, rather than cracks appearing, the glue had let go so that re-assembly was not too difficult once he returned to the coast. Slightly off topic, but related, is the widely held belief that many oldtimers who played string instruments in Australia would tune a semitone flat to lessen the possibility of necks warping. When I came to Australia I was amazed how many old button accordions there were here in the key of F# or two rows in C#/F#. Of course a fiddle played with D fingering and a semitone flat would sound in C#, and fingered in G would come out as F#. I played for some years in a band with a 12 string guitar player who also tuned flat by a semitone for the same reason, so it is still happenning.

Stephen, The Jedcertina I had was black painted ends and wood screws rather than end bolts. Both seemed original, so it was a bit different to the Lachenal ones you mention. Otherwise construction was conventional. By the way, you have seen me more recently than 15 years ago, when I came to the shop in Dublin in mid 2001, and you demo'd the new anglo prototype.... Malcolm

I am selling a US made Tedrow 30 button C/G anglo, a bit over a year old, with hard case and improved handstraps. It has been fine-tuned and looks just like new. Photos available on request. New price is currently US$1,850. I am asking Australian $1,850, which is around US$1,350, and a fair saving for any one after a nice 3 row (Wheatstone fingering). The action is very low on this concertina, great for fast playing. It compares well in tone and volume with a wooden ended Lachenal, and therefore should be considered an intermediate player's instrument. Further details on request.... Trade-in/part exchange for button accordion or other concertina welcome; let's do a deal. Regards Malcolm mclapp@bigpond.net.au

I used to have a similar concertina produced (I think) by Crabbs and containing an oval label with the inscription JEDCERTINA by J E Dallas and Son, London. In good condition, but totally unusable! Think I may have sold/traded it to Phil Inglis for his collection. (Any one know if he is still actively involved in concertinas?) We find quite a few Cambelll's melodeons and concertinas in Australia; don't know if his catalogue sales extended this far from Glasgow, though if it did I doubt if free postage was included! More likely though, brought here by UK and Irish migrants. Both German made anglos and rebadged Lachenal anglos and English concertinas have come my way, but all lower range models.

Nice one, Chris (Timson), good site and write up. One puzzle: the Doncaster band quoted in the web page as playing only English concertinas; I am trying to convince myself that the gentleman far right is playing an English..... Or is it ???

There seems from private correspondence some mis-interpretation of my offer of Salvation Army photos. Firstly, these are NOT for sale; if anybody wants these photos I am happy to send them AT NO COST by email, but only as a 1.4M attachment, or individually if you like. If you would prefer a floppy, I can do this, but then it is going to start costing me money for postage....however if you want to drop by my workshop in beautiful northern New South Wales, you will be more than welcome any time. Secondly, I regret I do not have the computer knowledge to distribute them in any other way; neither do I have the time or inclination to get too involved in computer technology to make this possible. If any one else has, then that's great, I can email the photos to you and you can do with them as you wish, and accept any copyright ramifications that might come your way. I have a fairly large collection of concertina ephemera which I would like to see more widely distributed and accessible. I am sure that there is much in both private and public collections which would be of interest to others. Or maybe not?

I have in my possession some photographs of UK Salvation Army concertina bands. There are ten jpgs in a file approx 1.4M and I am happy to send them to anybody interested by email. (Sorry, my computer knowledge (lack thereof!) will not let me use all the wonderful tools like compression/zips etc and I do not want to put them up on a web site because of potential copyright problems I have been warned about). Just a little bit of history.... The first Salvation Army Concertina Band was formed in Bristol, England, in 1882, and continued until November 1971. At the time it disbanded, there were only two other bands in existance, being Plymouth Congress Hall (formed 1892) and Doncaster Citadel (formed 1917). I have heard reports of Salvationist concertina bands in the Sheffield area and in Dumfries (Scotland), though I know nothing of these, and also at Weston-Super-Mare (Somerset), which disbanded in the late 1940s. The Bristol Citadel Band had four concertina-band leaders over its period of existance. These were all men, as were their accompanying drummers, though the concertina players appeared to be entirely drawn from the ladies ranks. Early Bristol instrument type is not known, but in 1920 they acquired a new set of identical instruments, stamped Ball Beavon, metal ended 31 bone button anglos in Bb/F, steel reeded in very high old pitch, and these were used up until the band was decommissioned, at which point the four remaining members were allowed to keep a concertina each. The remainder were apparently returned to Headquarters. Doncaster Band apparently played only English system, while Plymouth had most systems represented. Weston-Super-Mare Band played Bb/F anglos similar to the Bristol band instruments. The photographs are as follows: Bristol Citadel Band 23rd April 1967 Plymouth Congress Hall Band 23rd April 1967 Doncaster Citadel Band 23rd April 1967 All three bands together 23rd April 1967 (these taken at a Three Band Weekend in Bristol) Bristol Citadel Band 1960 Bristol Citadel Band c1938 Bristol Citadel Band c1923 (two photos) Weston-Super-Mare Band c1922 Weston-Super-Mare Band c1932 If any one else has done any research into Salvation Army concertina bands, please share through this group, or contact me direct.....

I think the asking price could deter would be cannibals Also, should it be sold from posts on this thread, I'm sure a suitable donation will be made...... I have replied to Chris off list to comment further on his points. Malcolm

It was C core when I first saw it, but cannot recall if this was original by stamps on the reed shoes. I think it was. Instrument is in equal temp A:440 pitch. with new pads and valves supplied by Colin Dipper. So as a historic record, fairly worthless, but as a playing instrument.......wow! Malcolm

A very similar Jeffries Bros Duet 50 button with C core and living in Australia will shortly be going on eBay with a A$3,000 reserve. Fully restored by yours truly some years ago, but rarely played, and virtually in mint condition. If any one is interested in making an offer before it goes to auction, please email me and I shall pass your correspondence on to the owner. Thank you, Malcolm

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Two Jeffries Duet players in Australia, Polly Garland and Michael Kluger. I believe Polly wants to sell one of hers, but it is hard to put a value on it. I remember that years ago Neville Crabb wanted to sell Polly a Wheatstone-labelled Jeffries Duet, which she declined on the grounds that the reason she wanted to play Jeffries system was for the distinctive sound, not just to learn a difficult system for the sake of it. At the time she played a Triumph Wheatstone Aeola, and would happily have jumped at the chance of a Jeffries Triumph system if one had been available, but every "expert" consulted said that Jeffries only made anglos and their own duet system. Not being fond of anglos, she had no option but to learn the Jeffries system. I have since seen one Jeffries Triumph and heard about another (Jim), also two Jeffries English concertinas. No MacCanns yet, though I believe Tommy Williams claimed that Jeffries Brothers did make them. Off topic a bit, but is there any truth in the rumour that Michall Hebbert is making another recording? Or is Rampin' Cat being released as a CD?

I am interested in purchasing a second-hand Morse, Herrington, Tedrow or Edgley anglo, should any one be considering selling. Minimum 30 buttons, prefer C/G. Please contact me direct with details and price. Many thanks. Malcolm mclapp@bigpond.net.au

I have before me a 38 button anglo with the C Jeffries, Maker, 23 Praed Street address in the oval, above which is the word 'LATE', and below the handrest is stamped "CJ. 12. ALDERSHOT ROAD KILBURN N.W.6" I also have a Jeffries Brothers with the same Praed Street address. Can I then assume that Charles junior was one of the Jeffries Brothers who then later made under his own name at both Praed Street and at Aldershot Road? Or was Charles senior one of the Jeffries Brothers? Or have I mis-interpretted? Maybe a family tree might be informative......

So where does the Aldershot Road address fit in?