peterhurst

Hello, to be honest I can only think that I was thinking of my Tenor Treble, You are right it is 48 key. I have just compared it to my English and it is in old pitch, The instrument plays fine and is in totally original condition. Yes I do want to sell it as it is of no use to me, These days I do not even pick up my Tenor Treble and have never played a tune for years now. Thanks Peter.

a early JEFFRIES ANGLO CONCERTINA, THIS IS PURELY FOR RESTORATION. i bought this box many years ago, intending to restore it myself. Metal Ends, there is breaks in one end All keys are there includind springs etc All reeds are there. Both reed pans. Both bellows ends PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE NO BELLOWS, SOMEONE CAPABLE WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN THIS BOX TO ITS FORMER GLORY. I AM ACCEPTING SENSIBLE OFFERS ONLY plus postage. I would prefer a UK sale only. I live near Liverpool. Thanks Peter.

A Very Original CRANES 48 DUET, ROSEWOOD ENDS, METAL KEYS, marked CRANES OF LIVERPOOL, (made by lachenal), original Lachenal Bellows. Price £975 plus postage, please email for postage, I would prefer a UK sale only. Thanks Peter.

Hello I started making a Linton system years ago, I am about half way there, I will eventually post photographs,but based on how long it has took me so far it could be a long wait. I actually think the system is great, releasing the fingers to find all those Chords, I am a English player and will often use the little finger to find those extra notes. Thankyou Peter.

Hello, I have for sale a very early Cranes duet. Ebony ends, has lost a bit of fretwork 6 Fold bellows, have been patched on some corners but airtight. silver topped keys, some wear. This box is over a 100 years old and is compeletly original, not, if any, as early as this Price £975. I live in the UK, near liverpool. Thanks Peter.

hi, Chris I have played this concertina many years ago and I do know of some of its history and former owners, I was present when Tom purchased it from its former owner. I would not publish their names without your permission, but if you wish to know email me. Thanks Peter.

Hi Phil, could you contact me on hurst.5@blueyonder.co.uk. I went to the house many times to play concertina with Betty and would if possible like to talk to you Thanks Peter Hurst

Hi some pictures

This is the Cranes duet I posted on the discussion forum as it is very early.# LACHENAL RAISED EBONY ENDS, NEW MODEL, 56 METAL KEYS including air key, 6 SIDED, 6 FOLD BLACK LEATHER BELLOWS. Number, 389,(very early) Metal silver label marked,CRANE AND SONS, LIVERPOOL, MANUFACTURED BY LACHENAL AND CO LONDON. A LITTLE DAMAGE TO FRET WORK ON LEFT SIDE BUT THE END IS STILL VERY STRONG AND STABLE, HAS BEEN WELL PLAYED SO WEAR AROUND THE KEYS, SOME PATCHES ON BOTTOM CORNERS, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN THERE THAT LONG I THINK THEY LOOK ALRIGHT AND THEY HAVE TOOK ON EVEN WEAR EITH REST OF BELLOWS. AIR TIGHT, SILVER TOP KEYS IN GOOD ORDER. PLAYS WELL tHERE IS NO BOX THIS BOX IS OVER 100 YEARS OLD AND HAS AGED WELL, PRICE IS £1200 PLUS POSTAGE. I AM BASED IN THE UK, NEAR LIVERPOOL, PLEASE EMAIL hurst.5@blueyonder.co.uk for further information and pictures on request. thanks peter.

Hi Thankyou for your replies, the number is definetly 339, and the label actually states, Cranes of liverrpool,(and in small letters, manufactured by Lachenal). I can understand a early box in this area as there used to be many Cranes Duet players in this area, and we are quite near Liverpool. as I stated I had forgotten I had this Box, and I have no interest in playing it, i think I will have to sell it and give it a good home. thanks again peter.

Hello I have been looking at one of my concertina,s that I forgot that I have. It is a Lachenal New MOdel 56 Crane duet, Ebony Ends. It is labelled Cranes of Liverpool, and the number is 339. any one able to date this box,a educated guess would be 1910/1920? Any help and your expertise would be welcome. Thankyou Peter.

Hello wondering if anyone could post a picture of a set of professional bellows jig. Thanks Peter.

Hi, I assure everyone this is a 48 treble, made especially for Betty Aukland as her hands were tiny and it is all she could manage, her father Sam also had one.I believe, but not sure, that Alistair Anderson owned one. I have been involved in concertina,s a long while and I know the difference between a Piccolo and a 48 treble. As I have stated there is no room for a air key because of its size, this should be no problem for a good player, as when I was taught to play I was not allowed to use the air key so that I wouldf always finish with the bellows shut. thanks Peter.

Hello everyone, I have decided to sell this unique concertina, I do not play anymore and I feel that this box needs someone who can fully appreciate it, the concertina is. A WHEATSTONE AEOLA METAL ENDED 48 GOLD PLATED KEY ENGLISH SYSTEM, BOUGHT NEW BY THE FAMOUS BETTY AUKLAND(Betty was a freind of mine), WHATS SPECIAL, This concertina is only 5.5 inches/140mm across. described in the Wheatstone ledgers as A PICCOLO, but is in fact a 48 TREBLE, there is no room for a airkey as the pans are so small. This is the concertina seen in the photo,s of Betty. It has a history of being played all over the world, Sam and Betty toured exstensivley in the 1920/30.s including South America. The Concertina. A 48 key treble, gold keys, some wear. Metal ended. Ebony wood work 6 fold bellows in great condition in black No. 28257 In its original Leather box. however the leather hinge is broken and the top off, it carry,s a couple of original ships label,s The concertina action is very fast. and very loud if played hard. The overall condition is excellent except for some wear on the keys. PRICE. This is a one off rare concertina, owned by a well known famous Concertina Player, what I am asking may seem a lot, but were can this be bought again......£3750 pounds. I really do not want to send this box to Auction as I would rather a player own it than a dealer, it deserves a good home and needs to be played and loved. I have owned this box since Betty died but can no longer do it any justice and it is just sat in a cupboard. Please email for pictures, to hurst.5@blueyonder.co.uk I live in the UK. Merseyside. Thankyou Peter.

Hello, I have today been watching a old documentary on Errol Flynn the movie star, during the film it shown some pictures of Errol on his yacht with his family. one shot clearly shown him with a concertina in his hands, appearing to be playing it. Anyone confirm that he was one of us. Thanks Peter.

Hello. This article was published in my local paper Nov 17th 2005. I spoke about this VC winner a while ago., the local paper published this story as part of rememberance day. The article is quite long and I will only print a shortened version. This outlines the gallant 1914-1918 exploits of big Sergeant JOHN (JACK) MOLYNEUX, who was awarded the Victoria Cross. Big Jack decribed as being a fine muscular man of great strength was born in Marshalls Cross Road , Peasley Cross, St Helens, and had enlisted with the Royal Fusiliers. Jack captured an enemy machine gun, killing the crew. After hand to hand fighting, 20 to 30 enemy surrendered at Langemarck, Belgium, on October 9 1917. Jack was wounded twice. He was a modest man, although in his civilian life, Jack would occasionally be persuaded to " drop his guard" to play his beloved concertina. Jack died in 1972 aged 81. a year later his VC was aquired for £2100 by his former regiment for display in the Tower of London. A keen boxer and bird watcher he left school at 12 to work in the pit with his Dad. In earlier years, the old hero was a familiar sight at New Year playing his concertina at the old street crossings at Peasley Cross. There,s a lengthy report of his return home to St Helens, being driven to the town hall, with the mayor and mayoress in an open carriage. Streets lined with cheering people.He then received gifts, an illuminated address and rapturous acclaim. It all proved a real ordeal for Jack until he was persuaded to play" The Blue Bells Of Scotland" on his concertina, later repeating the preformance from the town hall steps to a crowd of thousands. later on he was showered with gifts, including a gold watch, a silver cigarette case, and a new concertina from the Peasley cross Concertina Club, where his dad was bandleader. Then in Febuary1918 he was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre. in respect of his VC action.He was demobilised in 1919. Of his VC he said, "it has not made me a proud man. I have seen thousands of men earn one-but they have not got it. The boys who were with me were all worthy of the VC. I am sorry to say most of them got wounded" And he explained; " I set my teeth, and you Know what it is when a British Bulldog sets its teeth. It goes red hot into it. I was fortunate enough to meet Jack on one occasion, through my old friend Harry Hatton a dedicated concertina player. There is a picture of Jack in uniform, if some one can explain to me how to publish it in the forum I will do it. This is another story in the fascinating world of Concertinas. Thanks Peter.

Hello Everyone, Have you seen the picture of Betty Aukland on Ebay, just like to mention that I am the proud owner of the instruments in the picture. Betty was a freind of mine and when she passed away Betty left me the concertina,s in her will. The box she is holding is a minature 48 key treble, my daughter plays this box.Ths concertina was played all over the World in many of the worlds greatest venues. Guess I am really lucky to own this concertina, it is a privlige. Thanks Peter.

Hello everyone, I just thought that I would mention that Sotherbys London have 4 nice concertina,s for sale in there Early music auction November 10th 2004. You can get the details from their website, Please be aware that if you bid the buyers commission is, I believe, about 20% maybe 25% plus VAT. Thanks Peter.

Hello, I was wandering if any of our Concertina freinds in France could help me obtain a Email address for, The Mayors Office/ Town hall, for the village of ST AMANT DE BOIXE, CHARENTE, FRANCE I have tried various avenues to find out but no joy, then it came to me, the Concertina net is International and hopefully one of its members in France may be able to help me. Many thanks Peter.

Hello, anybody any idea what happened to the Wheatstone Shield? I have a few photographs of early concertina bands with the shield, all early 1900,s, it would be nice to know it was still around. Peter

Hello, I have been looking at some of my old band photographs, and I was wondering does anyone know what happened to the Wheatstone Shield that the bands used to play for. I may have asked this question before. I have a very good photograph of the Astley band from the early 1900,s displaying the shield, and it does appear on other early photographs. I last attended the ICA meeting in the 1970,s and I did ask about it but it seemed to have disappeared even then. Some one must know what happened to it. Thanks Peter.

Hello again, I have spoken to a friend and the address is correct, Forden rd is in the Anfield/ Everton area of Liverpool, My friend says that the Ivy band broke up about 15 years ago, it was one the bands that had all its instruments pitched in "A", some of the bands used to do this and in fact there is still a concertina band in Liverpool that pitches its instruments in Bflat, old pitch, I personally have done some work for this band and I know this to be true, retuning there boxes is a bit of a task.Anyway back to Bill Ambrose, my friend in Liverpool does know a couple of former members of the Ivy Band and when he can he will speak to them and ask if they know of Bill Ambrose, finding out info on this man should not be to hard. Thanks Peter.

Hello, I have some contact with old retired gentlemen who played in the Liverpoll bands, at one time there were over 54 marching concertina bands in Liverpool alone, sadly there are only about 5/6 left now. Anyway I will try to get some information for you, both on the band and the Name Ambrose. Thanks Peter.

Would Roger A, who tried to contact me about the Bass baritone please email me. All my attemps to email you have come back as failed, Thanks Peter.

Using a webcam only I now have pictures of this instrument;WHEATSTONE EBONY ENDED AEOLA, 56 KEY BASS/BARITONE,DOUBLE ACTION,8 FOLD BELLOWS,IN EXCELLENT PLAYING CONDITION.eMAIL FOR PICTURES IF INTERESTED