PeterT

I'd noticed that. Prior to April, his postings had become less frequent, and were from a public computer. Don't know whether anyone from W.C.C.P. can shed any light.

Doesn't look like anyone else is going to post this link: http://www.whitecottagewebsites.co.uk/homweekends/ Not really "similar", but it is a concertina event (at least the concertina one is!).

I sense a poll coming on ..... As to the "top 5", it will really depend on where you are in England. The favourites, in Essex, might well be different from the favourites, "up the road", in Suffolk. I'm speculating, not having travelled to these parts of the world (musically). You'll know when you have the "top 5", since other musicians will have played them before you get the chance . At least this will confirm that you are on the right road. I'm in the "play a few tunes well" camp. When you can do this, it will make it easier to bring newer tunes up to the same standard, since you'll know what you are aiming for. Meanwhile, here's a seasonal offering from chilly London: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1604947

You would probably need to look at early patent details, to see whether the logic, or reason, is given. Bear in mind, also, that in those far off days, most people were right-handed (naturally, or through teaching), which might have been the deciding factor. Or ..... , as Dirge has touched on the subject, the longest reeds in an Anglo are on the left, leaving more room in the right-hand reedpan for an air button.

which then begs the question - why not at both ends? not being an Anglo player I ask (in innocence!) would it be an advantage to be able to use an air button at either end, would there be a benefit in having the choice during a tune? chris Where air buttons exist on concertinas (excluding "bowing" valves!), the custom is to have them on the right. I'm guessing that Anglos were the first to have them, and there is a case to be made that on English/Duet systems, they are a "nice to have", rather than "needed". On the Anglo, it's air button under the right thumb, drone button (if it exists) under the left thumb.

I'm sure that the Dippers remember the day when I collected mine! A nice, sunny, March day in 1999. However, the previous few days had been wet, and I turned up, mud-splattered, on their doorstep, having cycled through some very muddy lanes on the way from Salisbury. It was almost impossible to tell the colour of my bike! Luckily, Colin and Rosalie have a sense of humour.

I suppose I should wait until tomorrow, before I welcome you to the D.O.C. Three and a half long years; think it was April 2006 when you played mine. Shame that I won't get to try it out, but I look forward to seeing the pictures. Please give Colin and Rosalie my regards. Must be well over six months since I last spoke to them. Regards, Peter.

Well, at least you didn't expose yourself on YouTube!

Getting there, though. You have both hands working together, which was still causing you problems a few months back.

"Not guilty!"

Banned from smoking, I presume.

Hi Chris, I would be very surprised if this type of course was available. Concertina maintenance is almost regarded as one of the "dark arts". Others may have better knowledge, but I can only think of one person in East London who has "recently" advertised repair services. Some players do their own maintenance, and have acquired a certain level of expertise through their own experience. Concertinas weekends, with clinics by Colin Dipper and others, are useful for hints and tips. Most maintenance is common sense, although some of the posts on this forum show good examples of what not to do! Repairs are a different matter. I would have thought that if your son is studying a degree course, he would be ideally suited to be let loose on your concertinas; at least everything apart from reed work! Bear in mind that the concertina world is small, and minor repairs would not generate much of a living for a specialist repairer. Regards, Peter.

Here's another one of Martyn, with Iris Bishop, from August 2009.

Hi Alan, Interesting observation. I don't suffer from "clacking", and can play fairly staccato; so I've just gone off to do an unscientific study to see whether I can produce this effect. The answer is "yes"; it's easy to do. By pushing down the button, then drawing back the finger at 90 degrees, releases the button so that it springs back into place with full force (and noise). By hitting the button full on, with the finger tip, then releasing (i.e. quick dab), the button starts to travel back as the finger is withdrawn. Result; little or no noise (certainly not audible over the music). Regards, Peter.

English: http://www.peterfrancis.co.uk/BidCat/detail.asp?SaleRef=A012&LotRef=206 Crane Duet: http://www.peterfrancis.co.uk/BidCat/detail.asp?SaleRef=A012&LotRef=207

Indeed. The video also answers the question about the size of concertina suitable for a child (in terms of age, rather than musical development).

The clue is in the ebay description.

Have you found the Youtube clip, yet?

Whistling Rufus ????

Arriving "a little late" on this thread! I've just picked up the following information from another forum: "Cromwell's General Monk lost his horses here - hence the name Coire nan Each." http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/260217

Me too! I have developed this style, for playing Anglo in the "English" style. It generally works fine, although when the wind blows in the other direction, it has a tendancy to flop over my eyes. This is not a major problem, since I play by ear.

The original book was returned, via myself, to Alan Day. This was back in January 2009. Alan posted, some months back, to say that he was investigating ways in which to make this collection available. I can't remeber whether there was a resolution; maybe Alan could update us. Regards, Peter.

In my early days as a C.net Forum member, it seemed that we used to see some very informative postings on a range of concertina-related topics. We also used to have some lively debates. The former seems to happen rarely now (have we exhausted all the possibilities?), whilst the later seems too often to degenerate into a personal level, resulting in threads being closed; as an on-looker, you can see it coming....... For most of C.net members, summer is now a fading memory, and the "dark months" are upon us. So; what did eveyone do during the summer concertina-wise (either directly, or tenuous links)? How about some sharing some experiences? For myself, hearing rumours that the concertina, in England, was an endangered species, I set out to see whether I could track down this elusive beast. I hunted high: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1541322 I hunted low: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1400525 I chose good weather for my rambles;, however, I did see one Tornado: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1443847 I'd heard rumours that they might have been spotted in Kent, but it turns out that the informants were only jousting: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1453366 I travelled overseas: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1423112 And looked in what I thought might be the most likely places: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1459920 And some of the less likely ones: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1349813 Finally, after months of endeavour, and the odd blister; following up on a "hot" tip, I found: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1494463 So; the concertina is not, yet, extinct!

Anything which makes playing live music easier, must be good news. However, it will not solve the problem of some pub landlords having a preference for recorded music, rather than risk musicians driving out the few regular customers that he/she does have. The main reason for pubs shutting down is lack of custom. In the region of £3.00 for a pint is expensive, and I can understand why heavy drinkers would rather pay half that price for tins/bottles from the supermarket, and drink at home.

Hi Robin, No, the Old Man has treated me well; three visits and three days with great views. Maybe not as clear as people might have hoped, but as least counting all the clouds in the sky might have been an option! The summit was busier than my July 1980 visit and, in August 1996, I had it to myself. Regards, Peter.