Ken_Coles

Yup, an assembly number. IIRC mine is 52X. You even have some pads thinner than others, like mine. A few buttons missing? Or just fell off, maybe? Ken

One standard question is, are you able to try one or both of them before you purchase? If so, the choice may be obvious (as it is a personal one). Welcome aboard. Ken

Interesting, and unusual indeed. I hope you are well and enjoying some music, Dirge! Ken

It does look like a match in every detail I can see. Ken

Welcome! You need to read Dan Worrall's book! It includes a whole chapter on this question. Someone here will know where you can get it. Ken

Speaking as a member and an admin, that goes for all of us. Cheers, Ken

If you replace the straps, keep the old ones and pass on to the next owner - they are uncommon, historic items, IMO. Ken

In some sense, much of the "concertina videos and music" forum consists of recordings or performances by folks here -- that's the scale of activity over time.

I was in York in 2018 and certainly had my eyes open for music shops, perhaps Banks was already gone then? Mine? All the music shops of my youth in L.A. (all now gone), Carl Fischer sheet music shop in N.Y. City (long gone), the Button Box. Ken

Give Wim a call. My impression is that he wants his instruments to work properly (like all the makers I can think of) and I'm sure he would give you prompt and helpful advice. Of course you're about to get all sorts of advice from the folks here too. I'm sure someone will get it sorted for you... Ken

IIRC the late Rich Morse said he had to do this twice a year on his Wheatstone Hayden (reset all the reeds), at the start and end of the dry heating season. Ken

People buy and sell here all the time and you are certainly welcome to do so. Not every instrument or listing will get an immediate response, or posts by other members. No judgment, positive or negative, is intended or implied. Paul Schwartz, the owner of this site, does ask for a small contribution in the event of a successful sale (rather less than selling on ebay will cost; see the pinned thread on Buy and Sell). It helps pay for the server space that we provide for free to users. Personally I play anglo so I don't have any wisdom for you. I have encountered later Lachenals that resemble this one and they can be nice players. Are the reeds brass or steel? That is pretty basic to the potential value and uses. Best of luck with your choices/sale. Ken

When I did my survey years ago, IIRC the only ones I encountered in such unusual keys were german instruments. But one thing I learned is that nearly everything is lurking out there somewhere, it just may be very uncommon. Edited to add: Since I wrote that, I've seen examples of Lachenals where the stamps on the reed shoes are in "relative C/G" and not the pitches of the reeds, so I would no longer assert that the reed shoes were always stamped with the intended pitch. Ken

The diagram of the Elderly box looks to me like a standard C/G where the person making the diagram has put the left and right hands in the opposite of the usual positions (but labeled the right as left and vice versa)? Ken

When I was in Stoke two decades ago (missed connecting with Chris A., which probably saved me a lot of money) I toured the museum that preserves a huge bottle oven of the sort where they used to fire the pottery (Staffordshire, after all, isn't it?). An interesting bit of history I knew nothing about. Ken

I happened to talk to Doug today and told him I would drink a toast to the Button Box tonight, which I did. Thank you for all you at the BB have given us since Rich started it up thirty-odd years ago. Ken

Joey, You might add what continent/region of the world you are in. We have folks from all over here, and proximity can encourage a potential buyer. Regards, Ken

I don't know where you are, but where I live (northeastern US) at least one local locksmith still copies these type of keys. Mind you, it takes a day as he has to file the notches out by hand, but mine (for a family house) have worked fine. Check in your area. Ken

Yes, I finally did it last year after being remiss for too long, and it is indeed fun. Do consider signing up. Ken

My jazz teacher, who played saxophone, clarinet, and flute in Los Angeles years ago, told a story once. A fellow musician did an experiment and taught a student the C# major scale first, working both ways around the circle of fifths until C was the last major scale taught. Sure enough, the student thought C# easiest and C the hardest! Only one case, but who knows? 😎 Ken

OK folks, opinions gently and tactfully expressed please! Dear OP - there are many opinions on this so you won't get a consensus. You will get lots of ideas from folks about what works for them. Welcome to the crazy world of concertinas (and concertina players). Ken

Bob Tedrow, although he is not currently building instruments, sometimes has some for sale at Homewood Musical Instruments in Homewood, Alabama. Some of the repair folks (notably Greg Jowaisas, a member here) often have repaired old concertinas on sale. It has never been a big market - Button Box was amazing for making a go of it for so many years doing pretty much just concertinas and buttons accordions. I don't know if anyone else is "major;" generally they are quite small by (say) guitar standards. Chris Algar in England (Barleycorn Concertinas) is easily the largest dealer in the world, has a large stock, and is very forthright to deal with. Imports from outside the US, however, are notably slow at times lately, especially getting through US Customs. Ken

What Jim and Aaron say I also heard from the late Rich Morse; that in New England a smooth fast fiddle tune in 4/4 (or cut time, take your pick) was known as a hornpipe, even though that is not the usage elsewhere. The "common definition" is subject to regional variations. Like many other terms we use (e.g. "concertina"!). Who knows why, it must have been long ago that the usage changed. The tunes Jim mentions are ones I started on a quarter century ago on anglo - I was hanging out with an old-time/folk music bunch of guitarists and fiddlers in the Midwestern U.S. When I got to sit in on contras years later I knew some of the tunes already. I do "Soldier's" on C/G anglo. Start on the left hand, but I often get my fourth-line D on the right hand. The curse/blessing of the confusing anglo - a dozen ways you could do things. Ken

Ceili reeds are waxed, not screwed down, but removing and replacing them is not difficult. I'm all thumbs and I've managed it on other instruments. Ken

If you are somewhere that you can afford to/where it is practical to/ telephone to the Button Box, I'm sure they'd help you as much as they can over a phone connection. Ken