Theo

I have just put this on the for sale page. It is a Hohner 30 key Anglo is almost identical to the Bastari I sold a few months back. This one has had more use and the plating is beginnig to show signs of wear round the buttons. The bellows are new from the Stagi factory, and I have to say they are just about the ugliest bellows I have seen anywhere! But despite that they work ok. A good opportunity to try out a 30 key anglo for a modest amount of money. A new Hohner/Stagi instrument like this would normally cost over 300GB pounds. Price 150GB pounds plus postage. I'm also interested in exchange for ther concertinas or melodeons in need of restoration The dollar price is only an approximation of the price in pounds. More pictures available on photobucket And I should add that it has been carefuly checked over and is in playing condition. The button sleeves have all be replaced (as described here)so the button action good.

It would be worth trying makers of bagpipes. Certainly Northumbrian pipes were often made with some ivory parts and they now use artificial ivory, and I suspect highland pipes also. Another easy source wold be an old knife handle. You should be able to get any amount from your local car boot sale. I doubt you will find real ivory, but there is plenty of imitation stuff. Theo

Wes What a fascinating resource! Harry Boyd of Newcastle upon Tyne, who comissioned top class concertinas from Wheatstone and Lachenal, can be found here Thanks Theo

What's the difference between a roadkilled hedgehog and a roadkilled concertina/melodeon/accordion/bodhran (delete as required)? There are skid marks leading up to the hedgehog. Perfect pitch? When the concertina/melodeon/accordion/bodhran (delete as required) you pitch into the skip hits the banjo that's already there. Theo

Stephen You can see photos here Theo

Which may be similar to the ivory-edged instrument I put up for discussion on another thread. Stephen, I'd like to see a pic of your ebony Lachenal for comparison. There is also this Wheatstone Aeola 62 key Mccann duet. Serial number 25350, of which I have the two end, but nothing else. The piercing goes round most of the 8 sides. Theo

Jim This is just a low-res copy for the discussion forum. I'll email you a better quality copy. The final size is not necessarily the same as the image appears in a photo-editing package. I've not yet set that. I've also noticed that the paper looks a bit too "short and fat" so I'll need to adjust horizontal and vertical dimensions independently. You will also notice that the border is black, but the flowers are the original colours from your photo. The border was the dirtiest part of the image, and the easiest to re-draw, so I've replaced the original. If I get the papers commercially printed I would get it all done in gold ink. Theo

Well what a great bunch of people you are. Jim Lucas sent me some photos from his bellows, Old Nic has provided details of a printer he has used for bellows papers, and also suggested someone else who may already have some. I have done my digital best on Jim's photos and here is the result. Next step is to talk to the printer. Thans everyone who helped Theo

Allan, I was commenting on the relaxation/nerves aspect rather than the thorny issue of playing from notation or from memory, though I have to agree the two are pretty closely linked. If you want a music stand on stage then I have no problem with that. So much depends on your individual learning style. I happen to be poor at reading, so for me I have to know a piece well enough to play from memory in order to feel relaxed about playing in public, thats just me! My reading is just about good enough to enable me to learn tunes from notation, but not good enough to be much help in a performance. On the other hand I seem to have a pretty good memory for tunes, possibly from years of singing in choirs! We are all different - you have to find a process that works for you. Keep on playing! theo

To me that's it in a nutshell. Try reading "The Inner Game of Music", authors name forgotten. It describes how to deal with the inner voice that can either be saying positive or negative things as you play. And it describes the kind of relaxed concentration that is ideal if you can achieve it. On a personal note I have had similar problems and at one point I decided to enter some competitions at music festivals. I did not expect to win any prizes, but it was the most stressful possible performance situation. Having done that a number of times (and even won the occasional 1st!), everything else is relaxed in comparison. And the more you play the better it gets. tunes or sets of tunes become like familiar friends. Keep on playing. Theo

When my band went to Estonia last year we were welcomed by our hosts playing for us in the arrivals area. We could hear them as we queued to get through immigration control. A wonderful welcome to a country who's people are wrongly aledged to be even more reserved than the English. It was a memorable visit in every way. Theo

Hi Jim 3.5 Mb, no problem, just got broadband working about 3 minutes ago! Theo

Dave If you and I both want fresh chidley bellows papers, then chances are others will want some too. Sounds like an opportunity for a bit of co-operation. We need a good original and a printer who can produce copies. Anyone else for Chidleys? Theo

Jim, thanks for the offer of help. A photo of your papers would be a big help. I think that the differences between the picture on yours and mine are mainly or even entirely due to the degraded condition of mine. The one I am working on is not such a high quality one, and is quite early, with nickel-silver reeds. It has rosewood ends which not only were seriously cracked, but had been very badly repaired, lashings of glue and patches on the inside, but the cracks had been left open, and at different heights so it looked dreadful. Much of the restoration process has involved undoing the earlier attempts. I'll contact you direct by email Thanks again Theo

I'm in the process of restoring a concertina which is mainly Rock Chidley in origin. The last remaining problem is the bellows papers, which are in a mess. They are dirty, stained from the green leather underneath, many are worn or torn and a previous restorer has covered them with a different set of papers which to my eye look completely wrong for the instrument. Ideally I would like to be able to buy a new set of papers in this pattern, or a good alternative would be if I could obtain a good scan, or digital photo of a clean undamaged paper. The picture below is the best of what I have. I've tried cleaning it up digitally but am not entirely happy with the result. Any clues or suggestions as to who to contact would be greatly appreciated. Theo

Look on the concertina connection website, under restoration, there are various options listed depending on the size and configuration of the bellows, all priced. Thanks to the people who made positive comments about Wim's bellows. I have now order from him. Theo

If you look in the main part of c.net you will find this section It shows how to replace the button sleves. These are made of rubber. When the rubber gets old the buttons slip out of line and jam in the holes. Its not a difficult job and the materials are cheap and readily available. Theo

This concertina is now sold. Thank you to everyone who expressed interest. Theo

I have to get a new set of bellows made for a wheatstone Aeola tenor/treble Engilsh. The information on the ConcertinaConnection web site seems to describe a quality product. Before I place an order I would like to hear of the experience of anyone who has purchased a bellows from them. Theo

I have had good results using fabric freshener "febreze" to remove musty smells from a melodeon bellows. Spray sparingly into the inside of the bellows to apply a light mist to all the inside surfaces, having first removed the ends to a safe dry distance. Then allowed to dry naturally befor reassembling. The smell then disappeared over aperiod of a week or two. Theo

This concertina has now gone to a new home with another c.net member. I also have an identical instrument but badged "Hohner". It needs a new bellows, which I will get and fit if anyone elso is looking for a cheap starter instrument. I have not posted a picture because the current state of the bellows is so disgraceful. The ends are exactly the same as the picture above. Theo

I'll have this concertina with me at Whitby Folk week if anyone who would like to try it will be there! Theo

I'll be there, but playing an ancient Hohner Erika with a "k" Club melodeon, not a concertina. Theo

Paddy I have just done some repairs on a Bastari so assuming its the same here is waht to do. Remove the 6 end screws completely. The entire end should now come away from the bellows as a unit, metal end plate and wooden rim. Turn that so you are looking at it from the reedblock side and you should see two small woodscrews. remove these and the metal end lifts off to reveal the action. There is a very useful page here Here which explains how to deal with the problem you seem to be experiencing with the buttons. Theo

Mahogany ended Lachenal 30 key anglo, steel reeds, bone buttons, 5 fold bellows. Tuned to A=440. Newly restored with new pads, valve, bushes, woodwork refinished. New hand straps. Extensive bellows renovation including new leather on all external folds and new bellows papers. Price 750 UK pounds plus postage. Overseas payments accepted provided buyer meets currency conversion costs.