wes

i can't play the english system, but this tina came beautifully in tune with itself in the old high pitch. it has a warm flute-like sound, but not very loud even though it has steel reeds. if you look closely at the reeds you can see the shiny areas of new tuning and the aggressive marks from the original tune. that person has some sort of rotary tool they used, probably foot powered or something like that. i shudder when i look at the old marks but the reeds have held up just fine. the tina had been dropped at some point and the bellows were torn badly along with some fretwork and keys broken off. one thing done by by the bellows maker didn't stand the test of time: the inner fold was taped with a fine thin white skin instead of linen and it had rotted leaving the bellows to separate. i share your thoughts on the rivet system. too hard to replace a reed. glad you enjoy yours so much!

no inquiring minds so far. hmm. well after much searching about, i would go for a later date, somewhere in the 1870's and it sounds like Edward Chidley was running the Wheatstone factory then. it would be easier to date this instrument if it had any sign of a full serial #, but it doesn't. I thought maybe having the batch # stamped on one of the daisy papers would be significant also. w.

need your dating expertise here on an english i have marked 64 on the pans and also on one of the papers. probably a batch. i feel its from the time Chidley was running the factory as the reeds are secured with a very small and precise rivet. daisy papers in gold, leather a bit of green color, rosewood, nickel capped buttons, rivet action. the rest of it looks pretty standard. old philharmonic, or rather was. now 440 equal. i was thinking around 1865. any ideas? hope so...

should be the same as used on accordions so a supply shop for accordion repair should have it. the supply suggested could work too.

umm. well a bit more than just valves. tuned to modern pitch plus new thumb straps and finger rests. thats 96 reeds to work on. 96. its an exercise in zen meditation. try it sometime. its good for the soul.

Richard, i would venture to say that the pin of your replacement button could be binding slightly in the action board. all you need to do is compare the broken one with the new one. you can file the pin diameter down a little with a nail file and off you go. course, you could just play one of your other concertinas. hmmm which one today? so many decisions!

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sweet you have a Crabb, i have one too. it's good for anyone giving advice to know the age of the instrument. time has effect on natural materials. good advice you've gotten so far, but to analyze without having the instrument in hand is really just a guess. if i were new to concertina and repair, i would have someone of good reputation take a look and set it up right. That might cost you a fair amount, but if it's a newer Crabb, maybe not so much. There is a huge database here if you want to try it yourself, and yes, get the David Elliot book first. w.

lot of great technique there for ya Richard. now if you are patient, i believe David Leese sells the proper thin material for the inside job. its an almost see thru paper, very strong and maybe use some water based pva or wheat/rice starch as adhesive. some use pva mixed with the starch paste at a 30 to 40% starch to pva with good results on many jobs. w.

Dave, sent you a pm on both gold on white and gold on black. It appears that these papers don't have any adhesive on them, and what is the best for attachment? I had some made and they came on a roll with a light adhesive under a peel away backing strip. The adhesive isn't strong enough to last though. i'd like your papers for a new instrument that is being made now. thanks. wes

to the rubbish comment.. oh my, just try out 'downfall of waterstreet' pure heaven and 'after the hare, the diamond reel, many of the strathspeys, just send you! the collection is full of treasures. on the first go thru maybe you miss, but then here they are, shining genius from characters we wish we would have met. sure some duds but so many great ones!