sidesqueeze

Hercules, and the Hercules.

Hercules, and the Hercules.

I've decided to accept JD Leedham's offer to "own, play, and curate" the Harrington Hercules anglo.. Like Jim Besser, I'm sorry to let it go but it's surplus to my needs. I haven't been playing it much since I got my Wally Carroll anglo two years ago! The generosity and charity demonstrated by our membership is truly humbling. However, the money from this sale will cover the cost of the operation. And a donation to Cnet! Thank you to all. I'll try to be more active here (I'm NOT a new member!) and I'll keep you all posted about little Herc 's condition. For now he is really enjoying an enhanced diet of fancy greens, watermelon, and hibiscus flowers. Ken Shaw Long Beach California

Let's name this concertina the Hercules. I'll put that on the case in gold leaf lettering! No damage will be done to the case. Hercules had his pre op check today and he's too weak to go under the knife (and the saw). I am to feed him his favorite foods for a week and re-evalate, with hopes of putting off surgery until Spring. Thanks again to the kind hearted people here. You brought a tear to a curmudgeon's eye!

Dan, thank you so much! We met at the Old Pal festival and I believe you played this instrument.

Mike, I'll know more about the financial needs after the pre-op visit tomorrow. Thank you!

Water bowl; picture art-ified.

Hercules today:

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Wow, that is incredibly generous of you, Mike and kenneads! This surgery will cost about $1000.00, so I think I'll have to continue to sell theHarrington. Here are a few pictures:

Hercules. He's the one facing the camera.

I appreciate Nick's attempt at humor at this difficult time. Also the defense from Ted and Laitch. The animal is a desert tortoise with a huge bladder stone. It's not exactly a pet, it was a rescue. I've accepted the responsibility for three of these. I'll spare you the details of its suffering. With surgery it could live up to 70 more years. My oldest tortoise is documented at 75, and the vet says he could be a hundred years old! The owner is an anglo player with four great C/G 30 button anglos. I have never before sold an instrument. Recent retirement has changed my financial situation! The instrument is actually well known, nearly famous. Harold Harrington was a fine gentleman from Texas who considered himself to be an engineer. He made only about 40 instruments and all are different. He re-tooled for almost every one. This one is oak, with some metal inlays in the sides, and with really long red bellows. The bellows are deeply "corrugated" so that there is good stability, and there's no problem keeping the ends parallel as there can be with some with some extended bellows. The tone is pleasantly reedy, unlike any other I've heard. Harold said the reeds are aluminum accordion reeds, so that makes it a 'hybrid' instrument. The action is fast and easy. the system is essentially Wheatstone, with an extra c# in the upper right. It has a HH case. My expectation is that someone who already knows this instrument (Jody, Gary, Michael Eskin) will see that it's for sale and want it. Testimonials are welcomed! Pictures will be posted as soon as I get a few computer issues resolved. Ken

A pet needs surgery. Otherwise I would never part with this little gem! It's a Harold Harrington square 30 button anglo. I bought it from this forum about five years ago for $1500.00, and given the circumstances, I'm willing to sell it for the same price. I've had this with me at several gatherings, and at Old Pal in Texas I was able to show it to Harold. He was pleased to see that it was still in great condition and said that it will still be around after he and I are gone. Is anyone interested? Ken Shaw

Last year I went to Cascadia and learned a lot from Michelle Mulcahy. An improved location is good news.

"In spite of his profession, Mr. Sidesqueeze cannot tune any instrument"

Can anyone give us a list of the tunes she teaches?

Wrinkle fiddle.

It works!

I have one. Sorry to have missed your request. Clever name you've chosen but it misses the sexual double entendre.

My copy arrived from Custy's yesterday. It's a delight! Lovely and understated playing with ornamentation judiciously and tastefully sprinkled in. Her tempos are absolutely steady, and her control of the dynamics is flawless. It's really quite an accomplishment, and it ranks among my favorite Anglo CD's!

The upgrade to this app, Anytune Plus, meets the desciption here but the free version of Anytune didn't seem to do these things. Additionally, you can record with Anytune Plus and then use the functions on that recording. Handy to have this all in one app.

My choice was researched and planned. Paul Hardy came over to my house one day with a collection of concertinas, and I found that the buttons on the Anglo were easier for my huge hands. I wish the layout was more amenable to playiing in all keys, but since I was planning to play folk music on it anyway, I decided to accept its limitations. Having chosen, I scoured the internet and found concertia.net just when Chris Timson was parting with a 32 button Lachenal. It was every bit as good as he promised, although it's even better now with new bellows and restoration by Greg Jowaisas!

I bought a Rochelle to keep as a beater or an emergency backup to my better anglos. It's more difficult to play, of course. The action is stiff, but you can still get a lot out of it and you can learn lots of tunes with it. Enjoy!