gavdav

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as title suggests. I'm UK based but looking for a playable box with a nice action for duets with G/C diatonic accordion. I have a good quality Crabb on loan but would liek something of my own for takign out. Recently played Morse and Marcus boxes and previously tried all the others. If anyone has anyhting to offer, regardless of location please drop me a personal mesage or reply here. many thanks Gav

apologies to all those who tried to email me over this - I thought I'd got zero response, then checked the email account to which my mail is actually forwarded. <cue embarrassment> For those who enquired, the box is still available, and those wishing to contact me should use the following address gavindavenport@argonaut-sheffield.com I'll take photos this weekend and forward them to those who enquired. all the best Gavin

forgot to say: I'd also consider takign a good quality accordion reeded concertina in part exchange against this if someone is looking to upgrade. C/G preferably but G/D considered. e.g. Marcus, norman, tedrow, etc.

John Crabb, 1889 31 key (Bb/Bb drone on left thumb) for sale. This is a beautiful looking, sounding and playing box, and just about everyone who has ever played it has fallen in love with it. It is almost all original, with nickel ends, bone buttons and gold tooled leather bellows. It was fully overhauled and tuned by Andy Norman about 18 months ago, who placed an insurance value of £3500 sterling on it, and described its performance as better than new. I've put this up for sale a few times (Was recently on slae at the Music Room, UK for £3000), then ended up not wanting to part with it, but as I play a number of other instruments and this is sitting in its case far too much and should go to someone for whom Concertina is their first instrument. It would suit a singer or someone wanting to play in old keys. The box is fast and responsive with a loud but warm tone. I would like to get £2200 or a near offer. This is a first quality vintage instrument. more info and photos can be provided on request.

Frank, Out of curiosity, what sort of price does a box in this tuning run to? I played one of your boxes in the pub in Goderich last summer and was blown away by it. (I was a youngish English chap playing at the festival). A/E sounds like my perfect singing box. (though it is fair to point out my wife/bank manager may not agree ) Gav

anyone in the UK wanting a good quality soft case/gig bag, I no longer have use for this one which has seen very little use due to flight case. I think it has been used twice and cost me around thirty pounds a year ago. black nylon zipped outer with plush grey padded interior, excellent condition. please email me to arrange. thanks Gavin

yes, apologies, the instrument is in Bb and F. I listed the instrument on the old buy/sell board which seems to be still up and running, and listed the keys in the advert heading, with pasting across to this group as well I simply forgot. would also consider trade in part for a three row D/G Castagnari melodeon (dony, mory, handry etc.) Gav

just listed my much loved but little played 1889 (john?) Crabb Anglo. This really needs to be played, but as I'm playing guitar and cittern every hour that god sends, the little box never gets out. its a superb instrument and needs to go to a good home, hence me listing it here and not ebaying it! The insurance valuation in 2002 was £3-3.5k, I'm after £2750 (yes, i'm in the U.K.) its a truly lovely, amazing instrument, but it shouldn't be sat in a box, as it all too often is. Ad duplicated here: "Stunning Condition, fully restored and in modern concert pitch, this is a professional level instrument. Serial number is 8340, dated at 1889. Nickel silver ends, dark (ebony??) frames, bone buttons. The instrument has 6 fold gold tooled black leather bellows, "Jeffries Pattern" bellows papers, a very fast action and a loud but warm tone. The ends are unstamped as was common at this period of manufacture but the endplates are of the typical, familiar Jeffries pattern. Externally the concertina is indistinguishable from Jeffries concertinas of the same period, but is stamped with the Crabb mark on one of the soundboards. The instrument has 31 keys (30 plus left hand Bb drone), and was fullly restored in 2002 by A.C. Norman and Co. who placed an insurance value of £3000-3500 on the instrument at that time. At some point in the instruments history a small wooden bush was added to the wind key/air button. this has been sympathetically restored by Andy Norman and actually improves the instrument's playability. Other changes from original condition are a small piece of wood missing from the right hand handrest, some minor wear to the gold tooling on the base of the bellows. These are all very minor for an instrument of this age. With the combination of fast action and open tone, it is equally suitable for players wanting to play in the English or Irish styles, and would make a superb instruemnt for song accompaniment. Everyone who has played the instrument has loved it, and it usually gets mistaken for a Jeffries. The instrument is provided with a fully blocked, foam lined, padded custom made modern aluminium edged flightcase. I'm very reluctant to sell, but need to do work on the house and this is not the most session friendly key, and this quality instrument deserves to be played far more frequently than I manage. Digital photographs available on request. Please note price is in GBP. £2750, postage to be negotiated." thanks Gavin