richard

Hello Geo It must be a bit sad to part with such a personal custom beautiful work of art. It is rich in the sense that we are only keepers of our instruments and eventually they outlive us and are passed on to create new magic on other hands. Richard

This is the type of scholer I am familiar with.

Hi Does that concertina say Scholer on it? The Scholers that I am familiar with had Plastic ends and sides, "mother of toilet seat" if you will, and didn't look like yours. The Scholers I have seen and owned were much better than the Chinese ones I have experience with which were pieces of C_ _ _. I did have one like the one you have and it wasn't so bad either. Richard

Hi You are very ambitious! How about starting by getting an old concertina that is a REAL fixer-upper and getting that into working order. That would familiarize you with all the elements. Richard

Hi Dan I have had a number of Scholer brand concertinas and I think most of them are double reeded. They can be a lot of fun. finding one in C/G can be challenging but there are a lot of them out there and if you are patient you could probably find one in a particular key. These weren't around at the turn of the century but I believe they were used later on. John Williams uses one in his instructional video. Richard

Hi Please note lowered price. Thanks, Richard

20 button George Jones Concertina C/G (more like C#/G#) Labeled as “Butler, Manufacturer, Haymarket, London” Plays but would improve with some basic renovation. NEW PRICE: $200.00 plus Shipping This is a very pretty concertina. It is # 12961. I assume it was made in the mid to late 19th century. In spite of the fact that it would benefit from repairs to the bellows and further tweaking it plays and has a sweet tone. • Bone buttons • It has a gentle, sweet tone • Mostly brass reeds(a few seem to be steel) • Green leather bellows • Red baffles • Nice bellows papers • It is closer to a C#/G# tuning. I suppose that is the original “old” tuning • Bellows look very nice but have some leaks and need patching which would bring a big improvement • Ends are complete but left side has 2 or 3 very fine cracks, but feels strong and not fragile • Valves all work but would improve with new valves One strap thumb screw is missing and replaced with a large brass screw that works well Please see Youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwpTN2YnIUk&feature=youtu.be Please contact me with further questions. Thanks, Richard

Hi This is anyone's last opportunity for 2011 to offer me some good advice (even bad advice will be accepted). Thanks, Richard

Hello I remember seeing some photo or video instruction for patching bellows from the inside but I can't find it. Can someone help me find it here or online somewhere, or offer their methods. Thanks, Richard

Hi After fiddling with the reed numerous times I took your advice and fiddled with the valve. It didn't look wildly out of place but I did pull it back a bit to allow the last bit of the slot be opened. Whatever I did it helped and the that reed is now up to speed with the others (which isn't saying a lot)and isn't breathy. Thanks, Richard

Hello I can't find any documents to help me date this George Jones concertina # 12961. Does anyone have an idea? Thanks, Richard

Hello I just got a very nice old George Jones 20 button concertina. It is very nice sounding with brass reeds. It is not a speed demon but one reed stands out as extremely slow in contrast to the others. Before the reed sounds there is just the sound of air until I pull even harder. The other reed on the same button (on the push)is OK in comparison. I thought I would show photos of how the reed is set to see if anyone notices something.

Hello Here are the further winning responses from Gpanda123.................. "NO SOUP FOR YOU!!" Q: respectfully, if you expect anyone to spend this amount of money on an instrument and not know more about it, you may end up being disappointed. i would also doubt the sanity of anyone who would make such a purchase based on a single photo, no matter what resolution. i find it odd that you refuse both to give the exact date of manufacture (which you claim is known) or more photos considering the asking price. the fact that the item has received no bids is evidence of this. i don't say this to offend you, but when selling an item like this, it literally pays to be slightly more accommodating. a musician will also want to know the button layout, as it looks non-standard, probably chromatic. 11-Oct-11 A: "goodfortunestore", Ebay intends this section to be for questions, and you haven't asked any. It is not intended for sermonising or whingeing by time-wasters. I am happy to answer relevant questions, which do not invade the privacy of the owner or the security of the item for auction. Musicians will know that ANGLO means it's the Anglo-German layout and that C/G indicates the keys of the 2nd and 3rd rows of the concertina. So, it would appear you are not a concertinist, and I would certainly not like it to go to somebody who might put it in a glass case! Whether it goes or not, I will not be disappointed. Obviously, you are now blocked from bidding on any of my items (never likely to carry out testing anyway, you being registered from faraway New Hampshire) and from any further communication.

Hello I noticed this English concertina on Ebay. It has a Wheatstone label. But the bellows papers and Gold tooling look a lot like what I've seen on Jeffries. Is this unusual? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Concertina-wheatstone-london-/140615621634?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Keyboard_RL&hash=item20bd581c02 Richard

Hi As part of my job I play Irish music on the concertina for old folks at a long term care facility. Some may be unwell and others very sick. Some times I play better than others and sometimes I may not play well at all! But most the times the residents are gentle listeners and appreciate any music within a general range of acceptability. Once a lady who is my friend told me how bad it was when I was done playing. As a friend I told her she could at least offer me some encouragement and she told me "OK, I encourage you to go home and practice". I look at it as a chance to practice and play in front of people which is very good for one's progress. I am definitely "doing no harm" and sometimes people seem to enjoy it and it makes them feel good. You can't please everybody.Its good if you don't expect to, and have thick skin. Richard

MaMa has her name sticker and is incised on the bottom. OUCH!

Hi I am a friend and now I can't figure out how to get my discount when I purchase. When you check out it has a spot for the discount code but I don't how I get my discount code. This is my deplorable situation. Richard

Hello Does anyone know how, once a person becomes a "FRIEND OF ITMA", he can acquire the proper code to receive the discount on purchases from the website? Thanks, Richard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnZ8iJyPWdY&feature=related

Hello Just to be clear...I said there are more makers of concertinas in the recent years to show that there are more folks looking for a concertina, not to say there are more instruments so they might be less expensive. I was trying to say that there is more demand. Richard

Hello I am no economist but this is how I see our Anglo price situation. The current market value is what someone will pay for something. I thought there were more Anglo player in the recent history and more people desiring one so more competition in "bidding" on them, and less Anglos available because more folks want one. Perhaps that is why there are all these new makers of concertinas in the last 10 years or so. Also perhaps because of the economic downturn sellers are willing to accept less because buyers are less willing to pay more and the sellers need to sell so they take what is the best offer. It all is a cycle. Anyway, I think the Emperor's new clothes analogy applies when the object is nonexistent or valueless, which is not the case at all with concertinas. If you want a concertina when the prices are higher or lower and you can afford one, it seems like a good thing to have. I am not supporting higher prices, I just don't think a higher price is, self evidently,crazy because a concertina transcends its monetary value. Richard

Hello Rod I agree that the Anglo is suited well for Irish music and vice-versa. Maybe I am reading too much into your comments, and what seems to be is your basic premise.....but it sounds like you are saying the air button and the need to utilize it is an unfortunate burden and that a strategy to avoid it is a good idea. I think the air button is part of the nature of the Anglo. It is a tool like all the other buttons. I think eventually it can become part of the vocabulary of a persons playing if one practices using it. To avoid using the air button (or avoid practicing any particular skill) deprives someone the opportunity to master it and have it become a natural and unconscious part of one's playing. I think to have avoidance of the air button be a guide to how one plays a tune is not a good idea. The fact that playing an Irish tune with a lot of change of bellows directions can give the music a lot of bounce and also keep the two end from getting too close or too far from one another is just a coincidence. Richard

Hi Greg I am excited to join you all at the midwest NHICS. I have attended the west coast class for a number of years and have really enjoyed the wonderful people and camaraderie, and the peaceful and pretty Tilikum retreat.This year I thought I would shake things up, venture out, meet more concertina players and set foot in Kentucky for the first time. See you there. Richard

Hello Here is my first concertina playing video put on youtube. I hope folks like it. Any critical help offered will be welcomed and appreciated. Thanks, Richard

Hello I thought that the name Linota was specifically reserved for Wheatstone's Anglos.? Richard