Ken_Coles

Thanks guys, will add it to the ever-growing to-do list.

Tom, it turns out the software has the "Official" area set as moderated. So all three of your posts were waiting there in a queue until I happened to look at it today. So I told the server to post your third one. Guess this means I need to check my own topics as moderator periodically! [still learning!]

The first cut on the CD anthology, "This Label is Not Removeable" from Free Reed is "Cells", with words from the poem by Kipling: "I've a head like a concertina..."

As part of a (foolishly ambitious) plan to rewrite and reorganize the entire Buyer's guide, a revised version of the Hayden Resource list is now posted. Again, this is not intended to replace more specialized sites like Jax or Maccann-duet.com, but to give new visitors and wannabe players some initial information and links. If you have additions (especially photos), let me know. Hayden Resource List The big parts of this project will be an English concertina Buyer's page (in draft form right now), for which photos (with permission to use, please) are welcome, and rearranging the structure of all the pages. Don't hold your breath just yet!

Hmmm...Maybe we should go back to ordinary titles, though it can be hard to find enough adjectives. In a vague attempt to be humorous, I have learned that it seems very tricky to choose titles that would please everyone. But the old titles weren't universally popular either. (This reminds me of teaching!) If I could customize yours, Dave, I certainly would (conversant concertina player?). But the system doesn't let me do that. The only answer is to have another tune on the concertina! Ken

Samantha (apologies to all for doing this business here, but its faster!), maybe you can pick out two or three that complement the ones in Chris Timson's review (action? reeds?) and I'll include them. I think you can just send them to me through the Email here on the forum. If anyone else has suggestions for things to include in new sections of the Buyer's Guide, let me know. I'm sure you'll have more ideas after I put the drafts up. In particular, I'd love to have some more photos of English system concertinas. We don't have any of the top-end models yet.

A week ago I was at the song and tune session in Portsmouth, N.H., and Emery Hutchins played a number of Irish tunes on his Dipper baritone (he only waited 10 years to get it!). It was lovely, but we couldn't hear him well enough in a noisy pub to play along at the correct tempo! So it was a solo, with a guitar and fiddle or two. I too applaud the BBox plans to make baritones on "spec." In fairness it should be pointed out that Wim Wakker (Concertina Connection) and Bob Tedrow also offer accordion reeded baritone anglos, and at least one other maker tells me he would be happy to make one on special order. The more the merrier if you ask me. Support the maker of your choice!

As part of the first steps of a big reorganization of the Buyer's Guide, I'm nearly done updating the Hayden page. I'm just linking to other resources, not replacing what Jack W. or others are doing. I find the old link to Samantha's pictures of the Haydenovskaya prototype is not working (it was at msn.co.uk). Does anyone know if this page is still out there and what the address is? Thanks.

Actually, my own titles are in abeyance. Jim came up with that one himself so I put it into the system right away. He will continue to progress through the ranks (black belt = 10,000 posts, perhaps?) and maybe some of us will catch up to him.

How fascinating...a year or two ago, I encountered a model 51, a 20-key C/G "Linota" with mahogany ends with a late 1934 serial number. It was in need of restoration, but the reeds were indeed very good. Interesting to know that it cost £4 11 6. (a fair amount of money in those days)

There were a number of funny suggestions, so I couldn't resist annointing our number 1 poster with one of his own monikers, and put off my other ideas for further posting acheivements. Congratulations, Jim. The rest of us are not far behind, I'm sure.

Dana Johnson, who some of you may know, has over recent years built a small number of anglo concertinas, and he is an enthusiast for Irish playing. He experimented with some denser (or thicker?) metal for reed shoes (I forget what) and the instruments came out heavier (close to the weight of a 45 button Jeffries, for a 30 button instrument). He took one to Ireland and named for me several players who tried it and didn't find it an issue. IOW, he was telling me he found Americans to be much more obsessed with weight of a concertina than are accomplished players he knows in Ireland. Just one person's experience. You'll find passionate views both ways here Bill (as with everything!)

Uh, gee guys, this isn't meant to be a secret or a surprise. I posted this on Official Announcements within minutes of doing it. Maybe that doesn't show up your "View new posts" but it (the latest official notice) does get a line near the top of overview of forums page. The software is actually easy to configure. What I need to learn is how to survive a day with nutty 15-year-olds with enough energy left to edit the software. The software calls them "pips" rather than tiles. Jim will discover a new title for himself before long. (grin)

Since I am out of school for a few days I got into the software (after many remarks from Certain Persons) to alter the default settings a bit. You'll notice the unpopular Newbie has become New Member, and I added some levels, one of which remains to be discovered by our most active members. The Janitor

A great series of posts so far! I was hoping all these folks (and maybe others) would jump in. If we go too long without hearing from some or all of these makers in the future I'll ask again for their news. A lot of exciting developments for concertinists (many of which I hadn't heard about).

Thanks for the info, Dave. I added the link to the Links page and to the brief repair page here on Concertina.net.

Here is a post from Shay Fogary that he meant to put here but sent to me in error. - Ken ====== I can add to Paul Groffs comments on John Kelly snr. I've no doubt that James Kelly could knock out a tune on the concertina and I'd love to hear him play. Must try to get someone to persuade him to play when he's home next. As for John Snr his Crabb No 18230 was made in 1967 and is now owned by John jnr whose daughters play concertina. John had a great style and no one at the time played like him. A friend of mine Gene Anderson took up concertina around the time John and Joe Ryan used to play in ODonoughues Pub. He has a s close a style of playing to John as you'd hear, an amazing poppy, stacatto lively sound. Probably developed as John used to play with the middle of the bellows across the knee and of course from the two row German which John probably grew up with playing for dancing John and Joe use to hold court in O'Ds on Merrion Row- birthplace of the Dubliners- every Fri and Sat. When Paddy O Dnoghue sold to Dessie Hynes the relationship between new owner and established players diminished. So John and Joe took themselves off to the Four Seasons pub in Capel Street at the corner with Bolton Street and coincidentally next door to John's shop which was called the Horse Shoe and across the road from where he lived. So it became a handy place to play. What sessions there were there. I recall being thrilled the first time I heard Jackie Daly play there it was electrifying. Of course it became a calling shop for all the great names over the years. Think of a player from the 70s early 80s and they would have been in the Four Seasons at some time. Joe Burke, Mairtin Byrnes, Bobby Casey, Tommy McCarthy, Noel Hill etc. Anyone who came to town would head there to listen or join in. Nice to have the RTE Ceolnet link. By the way I have a tape of John's LP and the music is wonderful both on fiddle and tina. Shay Fogary

Yes, a good album. Revels is good about documenting the time and area of each number in the liner notes. I've used this one on my radio show a number of times. Jack, how are you doing? (Topic for another thread, oops!)

Something I enjoy is the way folks like Rich Morse, Frank Edgley, Bob Tedrow, and Rich Evans post here. We also hear news secondhand from some of the U.K. makers (folks who are in touch with Dipper, Dickinson, etc). I was wondering about some of the others. In particular, what is Harold Herrington up to? (Or anyone else for that matter.)

Thanks to some astute folks and a double check by Frank E., the dates for Goderich are corrected (actual dates Aug 2-6). Thanks to everyone who helps us keep things fixed here on C.net. Ken

I took a look behind the curtain, and all I see there is a list of allowed image types for posts (gif, jpeg, etc.). I'll ask Paul about this, as I don't know if it is entirely up to us what files are added, or if the software only deals with images. Has anyone loaded any other file type with a post?

I was just talking to Rich about 90 minutes ago (as I write, he is playing at a dance). "How nice to see you off-line," he said, grinning. He promised when the dust settles in a few days, to reproduce all the info here as well. Thanks to Jack W. for serving the Hayden community (one less thing for us to do!)

I'm afraid the former owner put something in there, and I don't know if it is from the Inadvisable list. But I was thinking about coming to Montague, so see you then. Note to others: If you envy such proximity to experts (one benefit of pricey New England), I have done my time in the isolated sticks, which teachers you repair self-reliance.

I heartily subscribe to this advice and follow it with my concertinas to the extent my circumstances allow (centrally humidifying that huge house in Indiana will be a huge project). This particular concertina was sold to me with the board already split and was discounted by several hundred dollars for that reason. It had a temporary repair with an adhesive which is what has just let go. I saw Becky from the Button Box last night at a contra dance but neglected to ask how long the repair queue is right now. Guess it is time to get in line!

Well, the latter can be done... Ken Coles (who was assigned to the cabin "Newcastle" at Pinewoods last year! Mgmt there swears it was a coincidence.)