Marien

In general it is true that the bandoneon developed to a bigger instrument through time, but not all newer bandoneons were big bandoneons. I have a 3 row 32 button bandoneon at home that was made around 1900, and they have been making instruments with much more buttons and rows before that time. The 15 buttons on the left hand side of my bandoneon have the same lay out as the dark blue buttons on the chart + the green one.

Could it originally have been a jeffries duet (the one at hobgoblin)? As I am not sure about that, I would ask for a picture of the reed pans, and check whether the (low) reeds have some extra tin to make the reed more heavy near the ends (which could make the reeds respond slower). But maybe someone can tell me that this always has been an anglo(?)

also reported it to ebay, feel free to do the same. (but it's still there)

For those who can't afford a wheatstone duet, here is a lachenal 46 key on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Lachenal-co-Concerti...1QQcmdZViewItem p.s. it 's just a reference to this ebay listing, I do not know the offered instrument.

It looks like a bandoneon key layout. Also, there are only 2 screws to hold one end, and also the air release reminds me of a bandoneon. Tha case may be interesting for a concertina with 7" ends.

I am not sure, but I would say the concertina looks newer than the box (which states 'bates 1886').

i asked the seller and it seems to have no serial number on the reed pans. Does this suggest that the reed pans have been rebuilt?

The site was here: http://members.fortunecity.es/daniel_fdez_...divisiones.html and then on the left pane click "origen" The site is not very detailed on "todos los tipos de acordeones", it is just the photo that drew my attention I hope that the link works now... by the way, Jim, are you sure about the sardinian? I did not know sardinian looked that much like spanish...

To me, also that the lower part of the second number (3) looks as if it is not original. What age would make a 57 or 54xxx? ML

Well I really don´t know these types. If you know them, do you know whether the double reeds are in the same octave, or are they usually differing one octave? thanks

Sorry, if I only knew how to add a web page link properly in my text...

I guess that this is the same concertina? http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIt...p;rd=1&rd=1

I don't think so, I would say it is just a lable of the shop, or the importer (like Stephen says), and it is definitely German import. Marien

I saw this picture somewhere on an internet page in spanish language. Does anyone have an idea of the maker and the age? It 's here: http://members.fortunecity.es/daniel_fdez_...ertina_1835.jpg

Thanks, indeed, initially the ends came of quite "difficult", as if the felt around the buttons was sticky everywhere. It worked well to iron the felt and to make it shrink a little (for all keys) with a solid iron round bar (same diameter as the buttons) warmed in a gass flame and moved it around through the holes for a short time.

9 buttons

It may be the same model I have. Is it 6.5 inch and does it have raised ends? On mine, the right hand reed pan is very crowded so I guess that is why it had to be slightly larger than a 6.25" concertina size. Maybe related is that many Crane models by Wheatstone have 28 buttons on the right hand side in stead of 30 (missing the highest 2 accidentals), perhaps it all fitted in a 6.25 inch then, but I am not sure, I never had such a wheatstone in my hands. Marien.

The systems I mostly play are Anglo's and the Crane. For some specific klezmer, greek and balcan stuff I use the anglo, but it is less free than chromatic type concertina´s. Some "gipsy jazz" ways are similar, but I would not use the anglo in unpredictable chord plots like in jazz. My favorit for jazz and rag time stays the Crane above the EC or MacCann. Okay, it's personal. It is mainly because the Crane is the system I know best and the system I often play. I would not blindly recommend the Crane to anybody, but I would recommend the choice of the system you really feel at home for melody play and improvising. So for somebody else the EC, MacCann, jeffries duet, a Hayden (or anymore?) may be the favorit jazz concertina.

Perhaps an ancient mini concertina (chromatic)? I am glad that my concertina´s have overlap. On the Crane, When playing chords (on the left hand) I can play melodyat the same time (on the right hand) with notes that are also in the chord. Talking about other instruments, how about a recorder? Would you say it has overlap? Marien.

this sounds like fun and may get you to music never heard before.

If you like Irish music, also try http://www.clarefm.ie/ , there is a trad archive of sessions and traditional Irish music broadcasted in county Clare.

I have a good playing 28 button mahogany lachenal in concert pitch (steel reeds). The key layout (except the missing 2) is the same as a wheatstone 30b layout. I have more c/g's so I would exchange for a similar (or better) quality anglo in a lower tuning, such as a f/c 30 button. Marien

My Crane beated my MacCann. It's the ease of transposing that did it. Marien

Al, I was not the highest bidder, but I know they take 20% premium. Thanks for offering to pick it up anyhow. Marien

Even with a 72 pounds premium, 432 is a fair price.