Clive Thorne

Get in quick before the orange one puts a tariff on it!

The problem with buildinga 20 button anglo is that there are a lot of vintage Lachenal 20 keys out there at a similar price to your target price. You'd have to match those in terms of tone and playability. Yes they were cheap instruments when made, but many would prefer them, with the real concertina reeds etc., to a new hybrid 20 key. Personally I would go for a 30 key anglo because even the Lachenal ones available start way above your target price range, so your competitors would be the chinese built stuff, so you'd have to beat or match their price/quality ratio. Also, even as starter instruments I would have thought the market for 30 keys was bigger than the market for 20 keys. If you can find a niche, however, then brilliant.

Full marks for the free thinking. It's how great ideas happen. However, in this case, I suspect you're trying to solve a problem that doesn't really exist. The traditional lever mechanism is very light, responsive, and relatively cheap. Development of the existing mechanisms might be more fruitful, e.g 3D printed pads (already done by some I believe), PTFE for the bushing plates, or lever pivots, etc. I did see something somewhere where someone has used a bowden cable to operate a couple of his reeds, so a button on one side would operate a reed on the opposite edge of the instrument,. Doesn't seem to have caught on though. I've been down many rabbit holes myself, thinking I have a great idea for something, only to realise that it really isn't required, or is impractical/too expensive.

I imaging that soaking the whole reed plate in a light penetrating oil (eg plus gas) for a few days might help when removing the screws.

I've seen 32 button Lachenals in adverts, Barleycorn listing etc, but not in the flesh, so can't comment. I'm sure that someone will soon.

Roger, Corrected, It rejected my first attempt as the file was too large. Apologies for the quality. When I tried to capture via "Snipping Tool" the ITVX screen on my PC goes black, so had to take a screen shot with my phone, so got a lot of interference between the scanning rates etc.

Caught the end of an old war film "Above us the waves". (Spoiler alert/) One of the mini subs gets blown up at the end ( /Spoiler alert) and there is a very poignant shot af an english concertina floating in the water.

Did you mean left hand end?

Sorry Jody, I did mean John Kirkpatrick. Repaet, "must not be so lazy in the future", "must not be so lazy in the future", "must not be so lazy in the future", "must not be so lazy in the future", "must not be so lazy in the future", "must not be so lazy in the future", "must not be so lazy in the future", "must not be so lazy in the future", ....................................

Odd because JK told me that playing in E has the same push pull pattern as G or C, and E minor is inly 1 or two notes different (depending on which type of minor). Mind you he plays a 40 key, so that might help.

Also gives storage for the essential bits and bobs. Especially the screwdriver!

Doh!

For small amounts of various thicknesses (to experiment) you could buy a set of stainless steel feeler gauges.

Same here Roger. The alcohol certainly reduces the inhibitions so you tend to go for it. I think it comes out better after a few, but haven't actually asked anyone that I'm trying to converse with!

Is this a bit like being able to drive better when you've had a few?