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Paul Read

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Everything posted by Paul Read

  1. Thanks guys. Alan, your book was supposed to be in my Christmas stocking but Santa blew it! Sometime soon though.
  2. I have a Lachenal with raised metal ends from around 1904, I believe. It has two thumb-operated levers. A friend tells me they are 'bowing levers' used to simulate fiddle bowing effects. I understand that this has been discussed on the forum before, but I can find nothing about them. Perhaps I have the wrong term for them. Does anybody have any information? Thanks
  3. As long as you're a private member, you don't have to pay fees to Paypal and it is very fast. I think their exchange rates are a little out of whack though (On a deal in UK pounds that I figured should be C$805, their exchange rate came to C$825. But they are fast. If there is no currency exchange there is no problem.
  4. I wonder if the quality of the 30s hook action was superior to the 50s ones as reported to be generally the case with other facets of Wheatstones (reeds etc).
  5. Mine was 33622. I didn't have any problem with it so it's interesting that Wim states that it's worse than Lachenal.
  6. I had a 1935 one with non-riveted action. It played very well, you wouldn't know the difference.
  7. Some of the Wheatstones made in the '30s had non-riveted action. I suspect this was one example and concertina connection decided to replace it with their own.
  8. Thanks for the excellent advice Frank. The heads were sheared as discussed in our follow-up telephone conversation. I did manage to get it apart, with minor damage, but it's back together and seems fine now.
  9. I have an old 20-button Lachenal that needs repair. The end bolts on one end have badly corroded and the ends sheared off when trying to unscrew them. Does anybody have suggestions for how to remove the end without damaging the instrument?
  10. The black on the bellows can be restored with leather dye, followed by a shoe cream to restore the shine.
  11. It is possible, of course, that the present trend of retuning to A=440 will be reversed if the original pitch instruments become more valuable.
  12. The George Case that I have just sold also had a different number stamped on one end. I found it because Neil Wayne asked me if there was one. I didn't find out the significance at the time, but I'll e-mail him and ask what the significance is. Mine also had the wooden baffle. They are very nice instruments. Mine was an older one, #2223.
  13. Jim, You're partly right. It is a piano page, but if you search the site for 'pitch'. There is a whole page on the history of pitch. I found it interesting and thought others would too. Sorry the posting wasn't clear enough about the details.
  14. There is a good web page on 'concert pitch' at: www.uk-piano.org/history/pitch.html
  15. I don't know if this picture will work, but here goes....
  16. I have just put my George Case for sale on Ebay. The is a beautiful example and I would agree with Chris's assessment that they are the equivalent of the victorian Wheatstones. This one has been retuned and revalved. I'll be sorry to see it go but there is a Wheatstone tenor treble Aeola waiting in the wings and I need the funds!
  17. Thanks guys. I think that I'll leave well alone as it is working beautifully at present. Aesthetics are all very well but: if it ain't broke.........
  18. Has anybody any recommendations on re-finishing ebonised ends (on a Wheatstone Aeola).. Mine has worn off locally where the heels af the hands touch (or damaged by sweat) It is still shiny but you can see the grain. Also, any suggestions re polishing the ends (ebony)?
  19. Gents, Time I had a word. I've just sold the instrument. I think that Jim is right, based on the assumption that the straps attached to the rails. Having watched the discussion, it makes sense to me that the rails were removed (by, or for, the original owner because it came almost direct). What is there now is very well done and looks good. You can see from the photographs that the fretwork was modified to accommodate the 'rails'. I suspect he thought they would be a good idea and then didn't like them. I've promised Robin to get better photos before it leaves.
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