Stephen DOUGLASS

Bike riding, like playing concertina can start off as a 'dabble'. Pretty soon you could be looking for your upgrade, and spending many hours in the saddle, which can be rewarding in many ways, but eats into your practice time on your chosen instrument/s. I have experience of this. I certainly got aches, but I never got debilitating pain, but I do think that spending plenty time riding, may have caused my hands to be slightly less dexterous, especially after a long ride. Is it long term? TBH the jury is out on that, might be other factors too. But the benefits possibly outweigh the downside. Bike riding can mitigate diabetes and the accompanying neuropathic symptoms allowing some of us to continue playing for many years.

In this Northumbrian tune it might help to think of the preceding dotted half note as the end of the phrase and the triplet as the 'anacrusis' or the 'lead' in to the repeat of part 1,and has the same 'length' as the two eighth notes leading to the second part. (you are basically squeezing three notes into 2) There should be plenty recordings out there, so have a listen to how it should sound.

..... and a hornpipe and a reel..... and vice versa.

As above...The diet investigation might be worth a shot. Neuropathy is a symptom of diabetes and could be related. Good luck on finding a diagnosis, I am sure many of us will, and do have related issues.

Bilt Hamber Deox-C is not toxic and has worked well for me with rusty reed rehabilitation. The fiberglass brush on the other hand......

Generally when this happens the tunes you conflate tend to work well with each other. I identify the offending interloper, and play then them back to back to see which combination has the most pleasing transition. From then on I probably always play together.

Possibly the folks at Wheatstone (and possibly others) were looking at improving tensile strength, and mitigating cracks in low humidity, and the idea 'stuck', whether it worked or not (the aesthetics are appealing). The 'physics' of domed V flat, may have been a factor in the original design.

Bringing it back to the original post. There is an interesting thread in bagpipe maker Jon Swayne's page, which relates to air speed and temperature. Scrolling down there is an interesting table on change of pitch depending on temp. As a skilled 'pipemaker' he will have done his homework. https://www.jonswayne.com/_files/ugd/6788c4_901e3df0e96f41c8a1a3a169b9700740.pdf

This is fascinating stuff, I went down a rabbit hole after seeing the first video (shades of 'Cannon and Ball', Johnny Handle and Alistair Anderson). There is a more extended concertina piece in this clip if anyone is interested. Thanks for posting.

When we start the journey on a new instrument we mistakenly get caught up in the rush to rapidly improve. The early hill of the 'curve' should be the most enjoyable, best enjoyed through wandering the new paths, while surprising ourselves with the new discoveries. The only way is up!... It is the 'plateau' that I find the hardest, (I'm sure you have been there with other instruments). It is flatter terrain, so not as easy to see where you are heading, easier to get lost, and then we realize that there is no end, just a continuous gently undulating 'steppe' that we learn to love. Don't forget!... Don't rush the hill, the plateau requires much more energy and commitment.

I'd be interested to know if the 8 sided Crabb's reflected a deliberate attempt to produce an instrument with an 'uptick' in quality construction methods (similar to Wheatstone and their approach with the Aeola), or was it more 'cosmetic'? From the photo's, this looks like a 'fine' concertina David.

I don't think it's overkill Peter, I think it's being prepared (for the unknown) 'as a good scout' knows. I didn't think I needed waterproof cases until I got flooded (If I'd been asleep....disaster!). Unless I'm playing them, my instruments are latched and sealed in cases similar to the one above. I use 'Nanuk' stuff.

I have over the last couple of years, had several concertina's repaired by Bob since Button Box closed. I was very happy with the work he did. Though I will miss the relative proximity of his workshop in Mass', I'm delighted he is still 'fixing'.

'Tile' have a slim product that is already on the market. The also have other stuff (as do Apple) and I use them in instrument cases, especially KEYS and wallet, which i can never find. They rely on other users 'pinging' them for location. If this technology is different and doesn't rely on nearby locators then it might be worth considering. Dog tracking technology is satellite supported but expensive. If only stuff didn't get stolen, lost or just wander off.

Simon, I get the 'gist' of your post, but lets also not forget that of its time the concertina, would have been considered new technology/machine, also with a potential for failure. After plenty hours/years of practice, I could still never say I have a talent, what ever instrument I'm playing, rather for me, they are a conduit to connect with the music. If something new comes along that helps to assist with that, and works, I'd embrace that 'technology'.