Ed Stander

IN order of proficiency, I'd say banjo, guitar, ukulele, hurdy gurdy, English concertina, pennywhistle, guqin, flute, and Khene. That's what happens when you don't have a television in your house.... E.

Hi Folks - It appears that I have too many concertinas for my wife's comfort. I also have too many cameras. I didn't know either of these eventualities was possible, but it appears that her inner voice has begun to talk to her, and has suggested that I do something about both. Or else. Therefore, in a supreme effort to restore martial tranquility, I am offering the best of the best first, with the hope that It will buy me enough time to hide the rest of the clan. And so I offer here my 57 button Jeffries Bros. duet concertina for your consideration. It is the best, both from a player's perspective and from my wife's. It is perfectly tuned to concert pitch with excellent (new)bellows, valves, and pads. It wants for nothing as an instrument and needs no repair work. The metalwork is in perfect condition, and was recently re-plated and polished. The home key is C and the honk is more than adequate. What more can I add? Well, I can add two things. First - this is an exceptional duet in that neither side outblasts the other. Effectively, the treble (right) side is loud enough to hold its own against the bass. Secondly - it is a Jeffries instrument, with excellent steel reeds. Please help me find a new middle ground here at home, and give yourself a late holiday present. I know you were hoping someone would give you a Jeffries Duet for Christmas, and when it didn't happen, you were heartbroken. Here, I offer you a chance to regain some of that lost composure. Make someone happy, and consider buying my concertina. I would like 6000$ for the instrument, but will gladly consider offers. Think about it - would you be willing to cut, file down, fit, and tune 114 steel reeds for less than 50$ a piece? I surely wouldn't! Pictures on request - and thank you for reading. Ed

One last ere I sleep. The last picture in the auction shows the interior of the concertina, and suggests strongly that the reeds are in a typical Wheatstone layout about the edges. Agreed - or am I simply too tired to reach the power button? E.

Chris: Myself as well. Still - if you look closely at the above photo, you can see that the reed pan of the Horniman Jeffries is radial.... E.

Gary: Did the Horniman Jeffries have a radial pad pattern? Best - Ed

You know, if one wants to be a bit hard, It seems to me that it's the Anglophiles who are paying much too much for their instruments, not the poor Haydenites. I mean, what good is an instrument that doesn't play the same note on the blow as the draw? Heck - I wouldn't give two cents ( or a demi quaver for that matter) for such a system. Duet players unite! Throw off the shackles of the oppressors! Rejoice in the left hand arpeggio - and so says all of me. Best - Ed

Hello all - While it may be hard to imagine, I have too many Jeffries Duets. I have one in D, which has become my principal instrument, and one in F (!) which suits my mood when I'm particularly miserable. As a result, this instrument doesn't get played enough, despite the fact that it is in the preferred home key of C. Still, of all three, this one has the most beautiful sound and is best equilibrated between the two hands - that is to say, the bass side of the instrument doesn't overpower the treble side, as is common with duets. It has new 7 fold bellows that hold so much air that they barely move in playing, and all notes are in perfect 440 tune. The plating and pad work is excellent as well, as is the included case. In all honesty, if it doesn't go relatively fast, I'm keeping it.... I'm looking for 4500$ + shipping + Paypal fees (if used) and will be happy to answer any questions that come along. Best of all to all - Ed

Wim: Any idea what the price differential was between Ebonized wood and Tortoise shell? I've not seen it listed as an option in the Wheatstone price sheets. Other comments.... On the subject of cellulose - you might be mixing up cellulose nitrate with cellulose acetate. The former gives off a mild smell of moth balls, while the latter breaks down slowly to acetic acid ( ie. vinegar.). Casein has been around since the late 1800's. As to the burnt hair smell - my contact in the gem world says that horn and shell smell pretty much alike (at least he could never tell them apart), and neither smells much like seaweed. On the subject of lamination - it is apparently easy to laminate the shell before it is applied as a veneer. Warm water and a bit of friction does it. Unfortunately, I've not been able to find out the thickness of the scutes produced by the turtle, so I don't know if layering was necessary in our case. I agree that expense might be a consideration in the case of concertinas, but I have a feeling that the Wheatstone company got around that by using grade 'b' material... That is - the 'shell' on my concertina is significantly lacking in the patchy coloration that makes tortoise shell an organic 'gem stone'. This latter, in fact, argues in favor of real tortoise shell, as the plastic stuff is closer to what people expect from shell... In any case - I hope to bring my concertina down to the gem shop later today for a look see. Best - Ed

For those who are really interested, please look at the figures on page 240. They show the primary difference between true tortoiseshell and the various simulants. By the by - Faux tortoise shell in the 1800's was primarily made of Casein, which has a very different smell to shell or modern plastics - something approaching lightly burnt milk. Is it possible that the early shell concertinas were laminated with the faux shell, and not the other way around? NB: An even more likely early Tortoise Shell simulant was Cellulose Nitrate, which gives off an odor similar to Wim's 'ocean smell'. CN was one of the first plastics and has been around since the early 1800's. It was used extensively as a substitute for shell. 'nuff said. http://books.google.com/books?id=t-OQO3Wk-JsC&pg=PA239&lpg=PA239&dq=casein+tortoise+shell&source=bl&ots=p_QZ2ADIjZ&sig=iV7fJ7IWI96VWzCCnR3XKwL_e-Y&hl=en&ei=NL1ZTIKnCIeWsgOLyN26Cg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CDMQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=casein%20tortoise%20shell&f=false Best - Ed

Wim: A morning of research and discussions with gemologists turned up some interesting observations: 1) Tortoise Shell is made of keratin, as is horn. Both smell like burnt hair when heated with a hot pin. I did find one source which suggested a salty smell, but this source was far outnumbered by the burnt hair folk. 2) The boundaries between dark and light material in real tortoise shell is composed of small points of pigment which can usually be picked up through a 10x loupe. Horn is dyed on the surface, and doesn't have the 3D look of Tortoise shell. 3) Real Tortoise shell fluoresces blue-white under long wavelength UV, while horn does not. 4) Real Tortoise shell darkens with age if kept in the light. Horn does not. Both are natural thermoplastics. Horn is made by grinding up horn material and compressing it between platens. Tortoise shell is built up over time by the hawksbill turtle, and may show growth rings. It is also thickened sometimes by laminating one sheet to another, and this lamination is readily seen in cross section. However, given the thinness of lamination on the typical concertina, I don't think these laminae will show. And, finally, having writ all this, I'm still not sure if my concertina is horn or shell. The difference is supposedly obvious once you've seen the two side by side, but it beggars description. One thing I have noted on my concertina, however, is the fact that the (whateveritis) fractures in an unusual way - it forms very fine spherules which reflect very little light. Don't know why, but it is something to look into one of these days... Best - Ed

Sorry - here's a scan of the business card for posterity....E.

Folks: I recently bought the Tortoise Shell Concertina listed in the 'buy and sell' forum, and discovered Gregory's business card taped to the bottom of the box. Considering the date of the instrument (1936), the mature of the instrument (tortoiseshell with extremely well worn gold buttons), and it's recent purchase at auction in New York, my guess is that it was Gregory Matusewitch's last instrument, purchased shortly before his untimely death in 1939. Any opinions? Best - Ed

Jim: If it will help get things going - I contacted Terry and offered her 3500$ for the concertina. I have a Jeffries Duet in F, but play mostly with fiddlers, which makes for some rather awkward fingering - Hence my interest. I hope she can get more - I'm sure it is an exceptional instrument - but if not, please let her know my offer is still around. Best - Ed

Thanks Steve, for the best wishes... I'm happy to say that I'm not Concertinaless (Is this a word? It should be despite what Bill Gates says...). I have a wonderful Jeffries Duet in F/Bb that is dying for a squeeze even as I write... If that one ever goes for sale, please have a talk with my next of kin. Best - Ed

Sorry, Ken - and yes it is a C/G. The listing is: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=120364666859 Best - Ed

Folks (and ladies): I've relisted my Dipper concertina in the hopes that it might find a new home despite the mess our government and financial institutions have made of the the world. It is the last Anglo concertina that I have, and is certainly one of the nicest, both in terms of playability and tonality. I'd prefer that it go to a real home. where someone will squeeze the life out of it, and would be willing to accept reasonable offers to that effect - at least until someone actually bids on it... Beyond that - please don't become embroiled in a discussion of pricing - you can't really own such a fine instrument anyway. They are made to play, bring enjoyment to others, and then pass on to the next generation. This one will soon become a college education for a son who will, hopefully, find me a proper nursing home when the time comes. What more can one ask of an instrument? Best - Ed

David: Two things I've learned over the years re. EBAY: 1) Check out messages sent via EBAY through www.Snopes.com. The wording used by scammers is often generic. 2) Avoid any auction displaying pictures taken with a white cloth backdrop. While not in the know about these things, it does seem that many of the scammers are franchised. They may even buy the pictures from a third source. Either that, or they all have white tablecloths that look amazingly alike..... There - Stander's first laws of safe auctioneering. Cheers - and best of the best to all - Ed

I, too, am interested to see how the auction runs. I really don't expect the instrument to sell, considering the present financial state of the universe (at least according to the pundits...). Still, perhaps someone will contact me with an offer, at which time I'll have a better idea where things stand. In any case - I'm enjoying playing the instrument while I wait. Even Ning says it has a nice tone - so perhaps I'll be able to keep both wife and concertina after all. The best of both worlds, as it were. Cheers - Ed

Ah well - the concertina is now listed on the Bay - a cameo performance, as if it doesn't sell I'll just have to keep it. ; ) Best to all - Ed

Azalin: What are you talking about? The bellows have six sides, that makes 36 folds. E.

Thank you, one and all. My wife thanks you as well. As for the concertina - I have a question for those living on the UK side of the pond. Musical instruments older than 100 years are considered antiques by the Customs department, and as such are exempt from import duties (HTS 9706.00.00). Is the same true in the UK and Europe? I've had several inquiries from the UK, but all were wondering the same thing.... Best - Ed

Azalin - I dare not say. I think she is reading the posts....E.

What more can I say? The pogrom continues. Up for grabs is my 38 note Jeffries Anglo concertina, properly restored to full playability by Colin Dipper in 2005. Work done at that time included tuning the instrument to A440, repadding, revalving, replacing springs, adjusting the action, making new handbar assembly and handstraps, treating the bellows, fitting new bushings, and hand polishing the endplates. Since then, it has been well played in, but is still in perfect condition, and is extremely fast on the draw (and on the pull, of course). It comes with the original Jeffries case in good condition (the leather is perfect, but the handle is gone...) and that's all. I'd like 10,500$ for the instrument, but will be happy to accept offers above or below that number. The next kid is going to a state school. If you have any questions, feel free to ask, and best of all to all! Ed.

Well, the concertina, she is sold - and I want to thank all for the joy of the chase. This is truly a great society to be part of, and I will send part of the sale to help keep CNET going. For those who missed the fun, I will be putting my Dipper restored Jeffries on the block shortly. My wife found it. If you are interested, please look at my new post. Best - Ed

Dan: The concertina is 6 inches across the flats, which I imagine is about the same as a County Claire (although I have to admit I've never had the chance to hold one...). Other questions which have popped up - 1) It is a loud instrument when it wants to be. It certainly holds its own in the heat of a session. 2) It plays very fast, easily on par with my Jeffries. Best - Ed Oh yes - I have no idea how auctions work on CNET, but am certainly open to offers either above or below the set price. E.