martyn

Ok thanks Wes, that's really good to know. Martyn

I'm selling my Lachenal Edeophone Crane Duet (Triumph) Concertina. Ebony ends, nickle buttons, steel reeds. 55 - keys Serial number 3850 which I think dates it to early 1930s Revalved, re padded and tuned by Mike Acott about 15 years ago and hasn't really been played much since. Has just been sat in cupboard. (I'm an anglo player) Comes with original case which needs strap and clasp repaired. It looks nicer in the flesh than it does in the photos due to reflections. For any more information please text or WhatsApp 07885 265925 PRICE £2500

I've just added some new instruments to the 'For Sale' page of my website. The concertina is the third item down. http://www.melodeonrepairs.co.uk/Instruments-For-Sale.html Sorry but uk shipping only. Martyn

The long awaited, much talked about Chelmsford Morris 40th Anniversary CD is now available. 'A Right Old Song and Dance' comprises music and song from members past and present of Chelmsford Morris. This is not just a compilation of morris tunes (in fact there are only three on it), the 21 tracks are a mixture of studio and live recordings old and new from the last 40 years. To buy your copy email Celia Kemp at cakemp@hotmail.com Price £10 + £1.50 postage. Thanks Martyn

Hi All, I have just put a restored Lachenal 30-key C/G Anglo on my website, which is being sold on behalf of a customer. http://www.melodeonrepairs.co.uk/Instruments-For-Sale.html Martyn

I hope to be there on the Saturday Al Al, I hope we can get a few tunes together on the Saturday at last. Just look out for the red and white VW campervan (Lucky Lady). See you there. Martyn

That very same concertina was also listed on Craigslist London in early October and has just reappeared there again. I too have been in contact with the seller, who claims the concertina is in Aberdeen. I actually managed to get a mobile number from him, which of course proved to be unobtainable. I have also sent many emails, which have remained unanswered. If this is a scam, and I'm pretty sure it is, what is the point if the 'seller' doesn't follow it through? Martyn

I'll be there and very much looking forward to it. Martyn

Thanks for sharing this Dan. Great website. I couldn't find the concertina tunes though. Martyn

It's Alan Day's Manor Royal played as a march. I think the second one is Polka D'avron, or something like that. Martyn

Up until now I've had my instruments insured on my household policy and it was costing me a fortune for which probably wasn't a particularly good cover. After many phonecalls to insurance companies I've just taken out insurance for my concertinas and melodeons with New Moon. I phoned them and spoke to Joe who was most knowlegeable, helpful and is himself a very experienced musician. It was a very easy process. I just listed all the instruments and their individual values, seperating those that I play in the band etc. from those that stay at home and was given a quote immediately. No photos or proof of purchase required, although obviously if you need to make a claim you would almost certainly need some proof of ownership, photos etc. The cover I chose even includes theft from a locked car (not that I would ever leave my beloved Jeffries in a car). Another attractive feature of this policy is there is no excess. In all I think they offer a very good cover for a reasonable price. Martyn

Whoops silly me. Posted with wrong quote.

I've just found this Youtube clip of Anahata and Mary Humphreys playing a brilliant arrangement of A Northern Lass and A Northern Frisk http://www.youtube.com/user/anahatamelodeon#p/a/u/1/03BOQjgSfUc Wonderful.

I'm on there under my full name Martyn White. I find it really handy for finding out about festivals, sessions etc. and just keeping in touch with friends old and new. Martyn

Looking at the posts there seems to be a lot of Wheatstones around from 1851. I wonder if that would be anything to do with the Great Exhibition being that year. Martyn

I have a couple of Wheatstones No.2945 from 1851 Rosewood ends, bone buttons and four fold green bellows and No.5150 from 1853 (I think), rosewood ends with metal inlays and metal buttons. Martyn

Hi all, Any thoughts on this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=370155742012 It sold for £286, which looks like it could possibly have been a reasonable price. I emailed the seller asking if the reeds sounded on either end (see listing). My concern was either the reeds were missing from one end or - judging by the amount of damp apparent in the photos - the reedpans were badly warped. Was it purchased by a C.net member? Any ideas? Martyn

Found it here at 33m 59sec http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00hk...ies_31_Dulwich/ Now I've had a better look at it I can see it has black bellows and is probably a Crabb or a Jeffries. It looks very nice whatever it is. I would have really liked to hear the experts valuation. Martyn

Did anyone see the concertina on The Antiques Roadshow this evening? Just a brief appearance of about 10 seconds or so. It was an anglo with metal ends, green bellows with gold tooling. Possibly a Shakespeare. I'm just going to have a look on iplayer to see if I can find it. Martyn

Chris, I am so sorry to hear this very sad news. My last memory of Rosie was playing tunes together at Whitby and having a chat about music, concertinas etc. Then walking round the town with her and Jody Kruskal looking for somewhere to eat. She was a fine player of the English concertina and the melodeon as well as being a wonderful warm person and will be sadly missed. Our thoughts will be with you and her family. Martyn & Frances

Just three years ago I purchased a 38-Key C/G C.Jeffries for £500 from a local antiques centre. It just goes to show there are still bargains out there. Martyn

Does anyone have or know of any pre 1930 recordings of anglo players. I can't remember ever hearing any. Has anyone else? Old recordings of English and duet players are fairly common but no anglos. Perhaps it was because they were thought of as more of a working class instrument, therefore not taken seriously enough to record......Who knows? Martyn

As a rock guitarist as well as a concertina player I would say that the Marshall amp is totally incompatible with the tie clip microphones, particularly if it's valve. In my opinion it would be much better plugging the mics. into the PA system. Failing this you would get better results from an acoustic amp. Regarding the different types of microphones you could try Microvox which are ok but can be prone to feedback at high levels. Or my personal favourites at the moment from JTS http://www.jts.com.tw/_english/02_products...D=19&ID=119. They make a range of mics with different types of clips and mounting plates for attaching them to the instrument. These are suitable for concertina or melodeon/accordion and are very similar to the AKG range in appearance and quality but are much cheaper. Martyn

I emailed the seller before the item was removed asking who did the restoration work. The reply was it was carried out by Andrew Norman. The concertina has been temporarily removed from sale as a number of interested parties asked to view it. As this was not possible over the Christmas period it will be re-listed in the next day or so. Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas Martyn

Looks really nice. Closer to £5,000+ I would expect. Martyn