Chris Drinkwater

Scottish auctioneers,Thomson Roddick Auctions are selling a Wheastone Aeola 56 key metal-ended tenor-treble serial number 29004, a model 19, dated September 30th 1921, in the Wheatstone Ledgers, on September 3rd. They describe it as 'Victorian' and their estimate is ridiculously low, given that Chris Algar currently has a similar one dating from 1924, for sale at £4,399! See below for details copied from the auction web page: Lot 284 - Victorian Wheatstone 56 button concertina serial no 29004, By Thomson Roddick Scottish AuctionsAdd to favourites Description:Victorian Wheatstone 56 button concertina serial no 29004, with foliate pierced silver plated grills and buttons, in a velvet lined tan leather case, 19cm dia. Estimate: 700 GBP - 900 GBP Chris

Rollo Woods, who celebrated his 90th birthday early this year on 18th June, is an English concertina player, former librarian and writer and researcher, very heavily involved with the West Gallery Music Association, who has just been awarded a coveted EDFSS gold badge for outstanding services to folk music, along with singer and songwriter John Tams and Folk Roots magazine founder and editor Ian Anderson. Rollo is a regular participant at the West Country Concertina Association Kilve weekends, and this year, came to the ECMW held in Bampton, Oxforshire. I had a brief chat with him there and he is just amazing for his age. He is probably one of the oldest concertina players still playing and his gold badge award is thoroughly well deserved. You can read more by clicking on the link below: http://www.efdss.org/news/174-august-2015/3053-gold-badge-recipients-announced And for a a photo of Rollo playing his concertina, click on the link below: http://www.wgma.org.uk/Articles/Images/Rollo1.jpg Chris

Wow! your anglo looks really happy in there. Congratulations on a fine piece of leatherwork, Adrian. Maybe you should personalise it by embossing your initials somewhere on it. Chris

Yes, let's do that Jody! Chris

Actually, this is a repeat of an old Flog It programme, first shown on September 2009, nearly six years ago, when prices would, presumably, have been a bit lower then but still a bargain, nevertheless, considering I paid £3250 for mine three years ago and I thought I had done well at that price. Chris Algar currently has a nice metal-ended Aeola 56 key tenor-treble for sale dating from 1924. His asking price? £4399! Phew!! Chris

In that case, there is usually a lunchtime Scandi session in the Yacht Club bar room on the 1st Sunday, which you might like to come to. I shall be bringing my nyckelharpa as well as my tina. Chris Hi Chris Would be great to meet in-person. Nyckelharpa - nice. I'll bring my härjedalspipa along too. Looking forward to playing a few Scandiwegian tunes. Steve Likewise, Steve. I'd better polish up me polskas, then!

In that case, there is usually a lunchtime Scandi session in the Yacht Club bar room on the 1st Sunday, which you might like to come to. I shall be bringing my nyckelharpa as well as my tina. Chris

3% plus VAT paid by the winning bidder. Assuming that it'll need the usual resto work as a minimum, I think the price was reasonable. No bargain though IMO. Chris Algar's 48 button Ede's were around £2500 a couple of years ago. £2500 was my guesstimate in my initial posting! Chris

Lovely version on the tina, Wolf. You've certainly got the arrangement nicely buttoned up! And not bad on the melodeon, either. Chris

Well, looking at your tour dates and venues, Jody, the nearest one to us, is Haverfolk, on 18th November. So, all being well, we hope to see you perform there. And, if the pub do food, maybe we can get there early enough to join you in a meal, unlike last time at The Goose is Out, when we arrived a little late (but still in time for the concert!).

As Theo says, "So much depends on its playing quality." But as a rough guide, I seem to recall that a few years ago, maybe 4 or 5, when someone I knew was interested in purchasing an anglo, from some research I did, that basic Lachenal 30 key rosewood Anglos were selling from £1800 upwards, depending on quality and the better rosewood Lachenals, especially those with more buttons, would cost you somewhere between £2000 - £3000. I expect prices have risen a bit since then. I wonder if any of the music shops (Button Box, Hobgoblin, etc) have anything similar for sale at the moment, you could use as a price guide? Chris

There is a nice-looking 56 key Lachenal Edeophone coming up for auction in Birmingham on 17th July by Auctioneers Biddle and Webb. It doesn't say whether it is extended upwards or downwards but looking at an end view and the button layout, I think it is most likely to be an extended treble. Correct me if I am wrong. This is the description from the catalogue: A Lachenal & Co 'The Edeophone' concertina, with black ebonized body with fretwork end sections with 56 buttons total, registration number 129662 and numbered 59351, housed in a later fitted case. Estimate: 500 GBP - 700 GBP - A bargain at that price! £2500+ would be more like today's current value. Here is the link: http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/biddle-and-webb/catalogue-id-srbid10048/lot-e921e108-5f2e-437b-8725-a4cd00f01ef4 Chris

Thanks for posting the link. I came across this site devoted to rare recordings some years ago and this is where I first heard Walter "Wattie" Dale and his son playing their concertinas. I have enjoyed revisiting the site. There is some lovely archive material there featuring some excellent playing from musicians most folks will have not heard of. Geat stuff! I am sure other C.netters will enjoy surfing it and listening to various tracks, as I have done. Chris

Stompingly good for a first take, Jim. I love it! Chris

No, but you could always write your own! Chris

Bending the Ferret reminds me of Constant Billy! Chris

Thanks for the nice comments, Jim and Wolf. Chris

This link to a PDF of a "Concertinists Guide" dated circa 1888, held in the Bodleian Library, features information about Harry Boyd's concertinas, among others, on page 11 and is worth a look. http://www.concertina.com/maccann-duet/Maccann-Concertinists-Guide.pdf Chris

Even if a serial number for this concertina is found, it would be difficult to accurately date it from the serial number because the Lachenal records, unlike the Wheatstone ledger records, have not survived and any attempt would be a guesstimate. Chris

My contribution. Angela's Waltz, on concertina and guitar. This is a tune I wrote for a friend of mine last year, to celebrate her 60th birthday. https://soundcloud.com/aeolaman/angelas-waltz Chris

Yes, Paul. That was my first thought when I heard the tune. There is a certain similarity between the A part of Michel Vedder and the B part of Bonny Kate. Chris

Maybe that's what drove him crazy?!? I was thinking that maybe it's what prompted him to develop the Maccann duet. There are plenty of mentions, and even a photo, of him doing it: Well, I guess if anyone can, McCann, can!

And this is a link to a 39 button C Jeffries anglo, which realised £3000 plus 15% buyer's premium, today, at an auction in Cornwall. It looks like a very nice instrument. http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/barbara-kirk-auctions/catalogue-id-srbar10022/lot-1c79b2a3-0771-4c84-8062-a49e00b283b3 Chris

Great. You obviously had the Edgley, over all the other members of the orchestra! Chris

That is lovely, Adrian. I am so used to hearing it played on the lute by Julian bream et al. I never imagined it would/could translate to the concertina quite so successfully. And in reference to the title; Always Dowland, always doleful! Chris