Jewish Leprechaun

I think Wim Wakker at concertinaconnection.com could help you out. They have end bolts and can make custom ones too.

Thanks, Tallship, that's exactly what I needed to know.

I have just a quick question or two about reedpans. For traditional reedpans with traditional reeds, are the slots that the reeds fit into usually cut with a router or a drill press? Also, is there anything like a glue that is put in between the reed frames and the wood of the reed pan to keep air from escaping or is the fit supposed to be airtight all by itself. -Lep

Well, I don't know about having to be of a certain vintage. I'm rather youngish (17) and I get them. Although I was brought up with them.

This was great, my great grandfather directed some movies with Laurel and Hardy. I wonder if he did this one.

I tried figuring out Five Weeks in a Balloon and I think the beginning (what is first sung) is like this. E A A E E A A E E F F G F E Of course my ear for music isn't the best (an understatement). If you figure out the rest of it let me know what it is. I ended up making the next line up when I got frustrated and now I'm very mixed up on how the song really sounds even if I listen to it over and over again -Lep 20,000 Leagues The Mellomen played in a lot of Disney and Elvis Presley movies. I suspect that they really are playing in the scene with Kirk Douglas faking the guitar, but I think it was done in the studio after filming. I can't tell for sure, but it might be an accordion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCRT9NyWsFU&fmt=22 http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/index/?cid=2108 Five Weeks in a Balloon It looks like it was only used as a prop. I don't thing Fabian played an instrument. That is a nice tune. I wish I could find it. One place said the title song had it's origination as a Russian folk song. It was also written by Jodi Desmond, and sung by The Brothers Four. 39 and 50 seconds here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQzChtvgWMk&fmt=22 Center of the Earth Pat Boone carried it as a prop. Thanks Leo

I don't think these were mentioned -Five Weeks in a Balloon= The concertina pops up now and then, great song to play concertina with -Journey to the Center of the Earth= A guy carries around a concertina through most of the movie, that is until a magnetic field rips it out of his hands -20,000 Leagues Under the Sea= Kirk Douglas is accompanied by a concertina while he sings Whale of a Tale (I would love to find some sheet music for this song)

I know that this is a pretty old topic, but I was looking at it and was curious if you only skive the edges of the leather or can all of the leather be skived. -Lep

Another way to do this when you dismantle the concertina is what I believe is called making a charcoal rub or something of the like. Just place a piece of paper on top and rub around with a pencil it should outline everthing quite nicely. -Lep

Anglo

I've been thinking of trying my hand at making a concertina for a while now and have just started to draw up plans. Unfortunately, I'm not much of an artist with pencil and paper, so I'm kind of stuck for a fretwork pattern. This being said, I'm in need of a fretwork pattern for both ends of a 30 button anglo concertina. If anyone has any idea where I can get a hold of a pattern like this, I'd be grateful. Lep

Would you mind putting some photos of it up?

Well, I'm a bit of a beginner too, and am just looking into getting an upgrade. I started out and am still playing a Rochelle concertina made by Wim Wakker and it works really well especially for only being a little over $300. Lep

How did you decide? It came down to personal preferences. Also, I bought my Rochelle concertina from Bob and he accepts trade ins. Lep

Well, I just wanted to thank everybody for all the great input. I've decided to go with Tedrow.

I guess that depends on your definition of hand made. We design 100% of the instruments except for the reeds which are very high quality accordion reeds (though we specify reed customizations from the manufacturer for our sets). Some of our parts are made to our design/spec by others (ends, frames, springs, buttons, endbolts, strap screws, cases) which uses machinery (lasers, slicers, presses, milling machines, table saws and sanders etc.) though often we finish/complete the parts in various ways. Most of the parts are totally made by us in our shop (action levers, action boards, padpans, chambers, pinky rests) using machinery (table saw and sanders, CNC router, drills, etc.). Some of our parts are made entirely by hand (pads, felt bushings, bellows) using hand tools (punches, knives, shears, skivers, jigs and presses, etc.)... All the various and varied parts are completely assembled, tested, tuned and adjusted by hand in our shop. So technically, some would say that our boxes are not entirely made by hand (without any machinery), yet most people would consider our boxes to be "hand-made". -- Rich -- That's pretty much handmade to me. What do you make your bellows out of? Lep

I've never met a Edgley, only a Tedrow concertina, and I liked it very much. What I've read about Frank Edgley's concertinas leads me to believe I'd like them very much too. That doesn't help you with your question of course, but there isn't actually an answer. You'll be glad to hear, though, that there is a reason for this. Frank and Bob both make concertinas to order, rather than on a production line. This means they have the opportunity to offer their buyers some degree of customisation, so you can't make direct comparisons of the kind I think you are looking for. I would say that, whichever of them you deal with, you should end up with a concertina you will really like. Chris Edited to add PS: another maker I'd put in the same category is Andy Norman of England. The recent plunge of the pound against the dollar may make his concertinas more attractive over there in the US Thank you for the information. What more can you tell me about Norman concertinas. Lep

If I might chime in here... Morse's are quite decent boxes too... and with our increased production (and softening of the economy) our wait list is now only a few weeks long rather than months... and some of our models are available right now - we have stock on the shelves! Check them out. It's true that we don't offer an abundance of options or special customisations, but we do have many choices of keys, the odd special note here and there, and choice of cherry or black finish... but if that's acceptable you can get a decent box plenty quick! Or is there something specific that you want that has limited you to an Edgley or Tedrow? -- Rich -- No, there wasn't anything specific that limited me to Edgley or Tedrow concertinas. I'm now looking into Morse and Norman. Are the Morse concertinas all handmade? Lep

I'm looking into purchasing either an Edgley or a Tedrow concertina, but I'm not sure which one. The only concertina I've ever played or heard in person is a Rochelle, so I really have no idea about the subtle differences of these instruments. Any suggestions or tips would be helpful. Any information would be great (i.e. differences in sound or response or what music they're best suited for playing).