Stephen Chambers

This is a cheap Chinese English-system concertina. On the other hand, if it is an English-system concertina that you want, you can't do better than take Russell's advice and buy a Jackie, as they offer the best value. Though externally it looks a lot like this one, internally it is much better and well worth the extra expense.

They are basically the same concertina, though they may, or may not, have been made in different factories in China. As far as I can see, the biggest advantage in buying the Hohner is that their quality control and customer after-sales service may be better. I see you can get the D-40 for $174.95 here. I would recommend you to take a look at this thread for comments on the D-40. Personally I would suggest that you look into hiring something better.

I have been looking at the advertising of these instruments, on eBay, with some concern, and have been considering making a complaint to eBay about it. I doubt very much if they could get away with it under EU Consumer Law, as their advertising is blatantly designed to mislead, instruments that are very obviously (to someone in the Music Trade) made in China being promoted as being of superior quality and "made by German (or Italian) engineering". However, I understand there is much less consumer protection in the United States ?

Here is a great image, a magic-lantern slide, of a sailor dancing to the music of a shipboard "orchestra", comprised of one guitar, two banjos, a concertina and a man clapping time:

What, like this one ? (Available on the web for $475, or offers.) Or this one ?

No, just bring your washboard instead, then we could have a "session" Has anybody got a wash-tub bass, then we could have us a "trio" ? P.S. Don't worry Malcolm, we do have a laundrette in Kilrush !

Now there's a solution that didn't occur to me, but for the very simple reason that it wasn't an option when I started, and probably still isn't in the UK or Ireland. Maybe it is only a possibility if you live in North America ?

I'm not sure yet, you could only read part of the Instructions on eBay (see below), but we can try it if you like, have you got any dirty, session-stained, old concertinas ?

No, just bring your washboard instead, then we could have a "session" P.S. Here's a photo of my new "baby", the "Waschica German concertina", for those who haven't seen what we are talking about:

I can really sympathise, because I was in the same position, as a student in Manchester 30+ years ago, but then there were antique dealers and junk shops to scour, and I advertised in the local newspaper too, finally finding an out-of-tune metal-ended Lachenal anglo for £17.50 ($31.50), which was a lot of money to me at the time. However, a word of warning, I then (another term) didn't feel that I could afford a Hohner 4-stop melodeon, which also cost £17.50, so I bought a cheap East German 3-stop instead, for £8.50 ($15.25), that nearly broke my heart, it was so poor compared with the Hohner. So what I am saying to you is; be prepared to look hard for a good buy, and don't "make do" with the cheapest one you can find. Good hunting !

Though you can try it on this "Waschica German concertina", that I just bought off eBay, if you like . . .

Lida, The first thing I would do would be to examine the valves, as they are more commonly the cause of the delay you describe. Is the valve flap (on the same side as the slow reed) sprung up above the reed frame, or does it lie flat on it ? The valve should be a little "floppy" rather than stiff. It is much preferable to try this first, as changing the "set" of the reed (which involves bending it) changes the pitch somewhat (though I don't suppose that the instrument has been fine-tuned anyway).

Well I thought it was a "Must Have" anyway, I just bought it for $8.50 ! Now I will have the only "session proof" German concertina in Co. Clare. Thinking of another thread; it won't matter how many pints get spilled over it, in fact you could fill it up with beer with no ill effect And I can use it to wash my "smalls" !

Well I'm not offering to lend you my accordion to find out !

Jill, We probably have you thoroughly confused at this stage, but whereas C/G might be considered the "normal", or "concert", pitch for an anglo, I took it from your initial post that you were looking for an instrument that plays in Bb, which the C/G is not suitable for. Another way of looking at it is that compared with the C/G, the Bb/F transposes just the same as the Bb instruments you are used to (which may be why you mentioned it in the first place ?). However, those who normally play "across the rows" would regard the Bb/F as a C instrument, and the Ab/Eb as the Bb instrument. Now, I think you need to meet some concertina players and look at some instruments . . . Best of luck !

I think most people use "bone" or "ivory" quite loosely, and can't really tell the difference. Ivory is very smooth in texture, while bone is coarser and more grainy (you will see black flecks in it). Though Jeffries always used ivory, virtually all Lachenal anglos have bone buttons (until they changed to the plastic Erinoid in the mid 1920's), an exception being a rare ebony-ended one that I recently bought (off eBay) that has ivory buttons. (And very handsome they look too, against the ebony.)

Jonathan, Firstly, let me say that I don't feel that the seller deserves a scathing feedback at all, it sounds like you got just what he described and you bought. He probably didn't even look inside it, but sent it to you just as he got it himself. From your description of the problem, it doesn't sound like any of the actual reeds are mangled, only some of the leather valves and their metal stiffeners. You will probably find that, if you carefully remove them, these can be straightened out (you can try simply drawing them across your thumbnail a few times to achieve this) adequately to make the instrument work when they are glued back in place. The reeds that don't work probably just have some debris (dust, fluff, or hair) caught between the reed tongue and its slot, and will work perfectly when that is removed. It would probably be a simple job for a repairer to get it going again, but daunting if you have never done it before. Good luck with it,

That may be the case generally, but not necessarily here in Ireland where you sometimes encounter an "Eb session" (and many Irish bands play in Eb). Noel Hill realised the possibilities of the Ab/Eb many years ago, finding that the fingering of such tricky tunes as The Golden Keyboard is much easier on the straight row (G/D style), or it can be played easily in Bb across the rows. I know several players here who sometimes play an Ab/Eb, including Micheal O Raghallaigh (who has a very fine Jeffries example) and Tim Collins (heard on Track 4 of his new album).

I'll second that, compulsary listening ! A most enjoyable and accessible album, and about time he brought one out too, well worth the wait ! Cheers,

I think I can date that pretty accurately for you, to 1925, seeing that I have the receipt for 196865, which was sold on 9th January 1926. If you want to get it done soon, I would suggest you contact Micheal O Raghallaigh, in Co. Meath, on 046 9555589. Otherwise, I hope to be set up myself, in Kilrush, Co. Clare, later in the year.

It is my impression that ivory buttons were only used on the older models of Jeffries, made by Charles Jeffries senior from about the 1870's up to about 1890, though there was probably some overlap with the use of metal buttons. The ivory buttons make the instrument lighter in weight, and they tend to have mahogany, rather than maple, woodwork internally, resulting in a drier tone than other Jeffries. I have never seen bone buttons on a Jeffries.

Unfortunately, many's a good Bb/F has likewise been converted, but to C/G, in order to satisfy modern demand. And again I cannot plead innocence - Mea culpa ! However, I can draw comfort from the fact that changing the tuning of anglos is nothing new, and that even Jeffries did it themselves (they even converted a four-row anglo to a Jeffries duet for Jim Harvey, former Secretary of the ICA).

All the major concertina makers in the late 19th/early 20th century made them. You will especially find examples by George Jones (who first had the Salvation Army contract) and later Lachenal & Co. (after Jones closed down), both with the initials SA worked into the fretwork. Otherwise C. Jeffries made some superb ones (General Booth's concertina-playing daughter, Eva, appears to have had a four-row Jeffries). They do come up, but many of them have been converted to G/D over the years (something I must confess to having done myself, many times), for which they are ideally suited. Back when they were being made, Ab/Eb seems to have been a much more common tuning than G/D, but the opposite is the case today.

Jill, In that case, maybe what you should consider is an Ab/Eb, which plays in Bb across the rows (like playing in D on a C/G). That was the favoured model with Salvation Army anglo players, because it would play in the same keys as their brass instruments, and it has a lovely deep, organ-like tone.

I can vouch for that one, my Edeophone has a 3-way crack in the vicinity of the right hand thumb strap, they really do roll extremely well !