Ptarmigan

Good tip Adrian ..... now why didn't I think of that! I just checked & the lowest are actually A & E, which, as you say is "fairly conclusive evidence." but ....... ..... I notice that many, or should I say most, of the larger Reeds actually have lumps of solder on the ends, which makes me wonder if someone, at some stage, has tried to lower it to an old G/D, or was it pitched at A/E & it's been dropped to Ab/Eb? I'm expecting a new camera to arrive any day now, so when it does, I'll post some Macro shots of those Reeds. Cheers, Dick P.S. I just checked & I can play along with Mick & Michelle in this Video, & I'm only a Gnat's Hair away from them.

Either or & I'll still be happy, but I'd just like to know for sure. Cheers, Dick

Thanks to Tomoyuki Koshi for posting this new YouTube of him playing his newly acquired Ab/Eb Jeffries. I'm delighted, because it at last gives me a fine opportunity to compare his Ab/Eb, with my own old pitch Jeffries, which I believe is in Ab/Eb, but could it be old pitch G/D? I'm happy to let smarter ears than mine, decide. & {Old Pitch} Cheers, Dick

Moi aussi!

The joys of Summer. Isn't it great when travelling musicians arrive in town, unexpectedly, on their summer holidays. Luckily for us, Alex West sailed into Ballycastle Marina last week, on his way to the Western Isles. Ballycastle Marina This gave us an opportunity for a rare Concertina Session in North Antrim. In the photo you can see Jo's Wheatstone English, my C/G Suttner & the C/G & G/D Jeffries which Alex brought along. Of course, we didn't leave these Concertinas alone together, at any time ... just in case!

No problem Mark. The 26-k was indeed mine, but it was actually Dave Prebble who took the photo, after servicing it for me. I'm sure, like me, he's only too glad to see anyone here making good use of it. Cheers, Dick

N.B. Sadly, the Comhaltas videos are all now marked as Private! Cheers, Dick

On the basis that a picture says a thousand words, here's a photo of our instruments, before my wife & I played for a Wedding Drinks Reception, this afternoon. My wife plays the Harp & the others, are my weapons! Cheers, Dick

Class playing from Pádraig Rynne, plus some tasty Reels on an English too! Thanks, Dick

The case in the background looks almost identical, including the catch, to my Wheatstone Baritone Treble's. Back in the early 1900s, were all those cases made by the same firm & just stamped by the Concertina makers? Cheers, Dick

‎The BBC show ‎'Country Tracks' was on BBC 1 this morning & in this edition, they traveled around the Antrim Coast & ended up at our weekly session in the Springhill Bar, Portrush ... from about 46 mins. Country Tracks in Co. Antrim! Sorry, I'm only playing Fiddle & Bodhran in this one, but you do catch a glimpse of the rare sight of an English Concertina being played at an Irish Session! Cheers, Dick

Ah yes, thanks Leo .... what a treat .... 39 mins of Mícheál ó Raghallaigh! Cheers, Dick

Well Jody, if I lived in England, where I believe there's lots of opportunities for playing a G/D, I think I may jump at that option, but over here in Norn Iron my C/G keeps me right in the Irish sessions. So I'm more inclined to keep it as is. That's a fascinating option Geoff, but unfortunately, I don't play regularly enough with any Flat Pipers to make that option really worthwhile. However, I do know a Piper with a set of Pipes in B, but I only get a chance to tune down my Fiddle & session with him maybe once a year. However, that idea might be worth exploring, especially as, at the moment I am able to play with nobody else really, except string players who are willing to retune on special occasions, so once a year might just be more appealing than just playing alone. It's all useful food for thought ... thanks. Cheers, Dick

Don't worry David, this Concertina is normally only played gently at home. I could replace the bellows & have the Reeds all tuned to present day Concert Pitch, but I prefer to keep it the way it was, when Charles sold it to Albert, back in June 1899. After all, how many Concertinas around today, are still in that kind of original condition. The other reason I am posting is because today, out of the blue, Steve Canacott, a Grandson of Albert Canacott, contacted me by eMail to tell me that he'd stumbled onto this thread & wanted to send me a couple of photos of Albert. Naturally I was absolutely delighted to receive these & will take great pleasure in having them printed & keep them with this lovely old Concertina. Cheers, Dick P.S. That's Steve's Dad sitting on Albert's Knee!

Thanks folks. I sent them the link to this thread, which they found very useful. Then they posted this comment: So, all's well that ends well! Cheers, Dick

I've just been asked this question, over on The Irish Concertina. They are just about to order a Suttner & can't decide whether to go for a raised ended model or not. I have a raised ended model myself, but have never actually had it side by side with a flat ender, to be able to compare them. However I'm sure Wheatstone had a good reason for making their Aeolas ... & charging so much extra for them. ;-) Can anyone point out, in layman's terms, why they are superior? Cheers, Dick

For anyone interested in a Wheatstone Anglo, you may be interested to note that this one didn't quite reach the reserve asking price, 1st time around {last night}, but the good news is that it's up there again, for another 12 hours or so. I'd be tempted myself, except for that hefty 20% Tax & Import Duty I'd have to pay, to bring it back over here, which puts it out of reach, for me. Cheers, Dick

Seconded! As for the Leaving of Liverpool, I'm more used to hearing it being sung by big, gravel voiced, hairy ar$ed drunks in pubs, so that pretty approach will take a bit of getting used to. Cheers, Dick

This is my latest wee iMovie, using Hammered Dulcimer {Rick Thum}, Anglo Concertina {C/G Suttner}, Tenor Banjo {Paragon} & Jews Harp. The Legacy Cheers, Dick

Good job John. I think the reason they say it is usually sung by a woman, is because the last two lines refer to the singer loosing her maidenhead & being left with a baby inside her. Mind you, judging by your deep Bass voice, I'd say you probably lost yours, a long time ago! Your Mp3 makes it very clear why they call those Concertinas ... Duets. However, it's such a lovely melody that I think it's well able to stand alone, but there's a very good reason why i didn't actually sing this myself ...... I canny sing! . Cheers, Dick

Och what else can you do on a cold, wet Sunday afternoon .... once the Rugby match has finished! Anyway, I loaded up Garage Band & iMovie and with a bunch of my own photos & playing my trusty Baritone Treble, plus Fiddle, Mandolin & Tin Whistle ... this is the result. Ye Banks and Braes! Well, I had to do something to cheer myself up after yesterday's defeat, at the hands of the auld enemy! Cheers, Dick

Thanks Ben, it sounds excellent. By the way, how is it that the Bellows appear to be pale GREEN in the video? Are the photos on eBay closer to the actual colour? Cheers, Dick

Yet another iMovie, this time featuring my C/G Suttner, plus Tenor Guitar & Banjo in the mix. Paddy Fahy's Jig! Cheers, Dick

Funnily enough Chris, that's usually the first thing I do, when I get home after a good Session too, take out my Concertina & play a few tunes! Whereas, after sex, I'm usually more like Oliver Twist, so instead of tunes ....... I'm far too busy asking for more! Cheers, Dick

Thanks Ben, I look forward to hearing it. Cheers, Dick