Paul Read

Is there anybody out of the US likely to make it to Toronto for this?

Colin and Rosalie will be in Toronto on May 14th this year and there will be a chance to meet them and get to talk to them about concertina manufacture, repair and other items of interest. There will also be an evening event, probably a music session. More details to follow as the plans develop but anyone interested please let me know by PM so that we can get an idea of numbers for the day.

No, it wasn't me but the seller is one of our members and I believe he packed it properly.

I think this guy knows about serial numbers. He's bought and sold a number of concertinas if you look at his feedback. I suspect you're right about telling me to buzz off though.

I tried asking for the serial number myself. His reply was "0". I suspect he hopes someone will think it's from an earlier era and hence more valuable. Not very ethical but there you go.

GBP5,000 for a 50s Wheatstone! Hmmm, that would be a record.

A friend of mine asked for the seller to list the serial number. Here's the response: Dear , That's the property of the owner. - gpanda123 I think this is because this is one he bought from another c.net member then he left bad feedback. Be very cautious dealing with this seller. Link

From ebay: Thank you for reporting this item. If you see an item on eBay that you think may be stolen, please contact law enforcement immediately. Tell the police officer handling the case that we will be pleased to cooperate in the investigation. Please forward this message to the officer and ask him or her to contact us as follows: 1. Go to: http://pages.ebay.com/help/contact_us/_base/index_selection.html 2. Select "Listing Violations," and then click the "Continue" button. 3. Select "Stolen property," select "You are a law enforcement official," and then click the "Continue" button. 4. Click the "Email us" link. Best regards, eBay Trust & Safety Department

I've reported it to ebay showing this link

It does look like a nice instrument though if you ignore their description and just go on the pics and the ledger.

Already under discussion here: Discussion

Colin and Rosalie completed a pair of G/D 36-button concertinas for me and a friend last summer. The layout was designed to allow more reversal options and reverse chord options in the main keys. To allow more flexibility, my friend had his made with a thumbstrap and English style wrist strap on the right side (the left being standard anglo strap). I stuck with the traditional anglo strap arrangement but he is very happy with the thumbstrap arrangement. I have tried it and it does work well. When I picked mine up, I did get a chance to try the Franglo and once you can wrap your brain around it being essentially laid out like a melodeon, it is very playable and has more bass options than a regular melodeon. In fact, I am extremely tempted to order one........

Thanks for the criticism Ross. I was actually responding because of the "no G/D anglos" quote. Merry Christmas. Edited to add: After some second thought, I hadn't realized you'd been appointed site policeman. If you haven't, and seeing that we're handing out advice, you'd do better to keep your thoughts to yourself.

Jeff, I can't agree with your advice. C/G concertina is universal for Irish music. For English (including morris) you're better off with a G/D because you can play the chords (important for morris). For a melodeon, ( someone may want to confirm this - not my best area) you want D/G for morris so you have the right chords and can play with others. If it's just you playing, the key you play in is up to you. Lots of tutorials for D/G. To me, one of the best for a beginner is Maggie's Melodeon. Jeff, are you an Irish player?

I'd like to add my best wishes to all for this Christmas season. I usually have some anglos available. No lower priced G/Ds but a couple of Jeffries and a couple of C/Gs including a nice 1916 Wheatstone Linota 36-button and an unknown C/G Jeffries look-alike with raised ends and 36 buttons. I can be contacted through the messaging system here.

They aren't particularly hard to come by. In fact, you get more for your money than any other system. They are less popular partly because of a the general belief that they are harder to master than the English or Anglo systems. They both (English and Duet) are based on the same reeds and actions so they don't particularly sound different. You would have more chance of finding a teacher for an English. If you think a duet would suit your wife, you will certainly get a better instrument for your money. Call Chris Algar (Barleycorn Concertinas) to get a better feel for it. He'll be happy to guide you through the options.

And then there are all those people who call concrete cement!@

You can make the leather more flexible and less likely to crack by working in shoe cream into the leather (not wax-based shoe polish). If there are several leaks, the bellows are probably too far gone but you could patch it up by gluing zephyr or very thin leather on the inside using a flexible leather glue. Good luck

There definitely is confusion here is Canada. You can hear both the correct and the North American usage here.

Both are shown with red writing under completed listings, indicating they didn't sell. I think the listing was ended, suggesting sold off ebay.

Thanks Dave. I did call Dave Leese who couldn't help this time. I was surprised too!

I see the G/D Crabb and the Dipper have come off ebay.

Fair point. I admit I was making up the name for it! As it happens there is a similar instrument on Ebay. Here's a pic I snaffled. The instrument has wooden end frames. The beading is glued on the end (the shaped part and it also supports the metal end plate) I have a part of that "beading" missing

If you're basing that on this: ...then don't forget that the "excellent ebayer" has passed on and the seller is someone else who may be less familiar with the ways of eBay: I was actually referring to his feedback, mostly selling Lambretta parts.

I wonder what has caused the disappointment with human conduct? As far as I can see nobody on here or melodeon.net has said anything that would be construed as "poor ethics". I wonder if he is upset that there was concern that it was a scam. As a regular ebayer you'd think he would know thast this is a an ongoing issue and his early, pictureless listings looked similar to past scams. I think these threads have served to expand his potential market significantly. Perhaps I'm just misunderstanding the issue.