Lofty

On a daytime TV programme in England, called 'Flog It!', a woman brought Wheatstone 26546 along. She had kept it in her garage for 30 years: it was kept after an old lady she used to know died. She had no idea what it was worth: the 'expert' had a bit more idea. If you are in the UK, you can see the episode here for a few more days: Flog It! It's about 32 minutes in. The auction is very near the end - about 41 minutes in. It went for £2,200. In my defence, I don't watch daytime TV programmes like this. My mother told me about it! Steve

This happened to me quite a few years ago. I heard that someone in the band I was in kept playing a wrong note. After a while I realised it was me, on my 56 key Wheatstone bass/baritone! I checked I was pressing the correct button: yes. The concertina is single-acting, so I couldn't even play that note in the other direction. At the end of that number, I played a long note and listened to the pitch drop, ending with a ping when the reed snapped. I phoned Colin Dipper, posted the broken reed to him and received a replacement by return of post. Colin said to ring him when I had installed it to discuss final tuning, but it was perfect so I didn't need to do anything. This reed sounded a bit different for a while, but I can't even remember which one it was now. Steve

I play a single-acting Wheatstone 56 key Bass/Baritone EC. It weighs in at 6 lbs 12.5 ounces: that's 3.085Kg. I don't often play standing up! I take my hat off to you...and step aside to allow you top step on the podium (that is, if you can climb up there with all that weight!) It's only a 'Small Bass', according to the Wheatstone ledgers at http://www.horniman.info/WNCMARC/C1054/PAGES/CAP2240S.HTM Does anybody own a 'Large Bass' (and some scales)? Lofty

I think my Æola Baritone Trumps your Duet wolsop. It weighs in at 2041g! ...................... Any Bass players out there? I play a single-acting Wheatstone 56 key Bass/Baritone EC. It weighs in at 6 lbs 12.5 ounces: that's 3.085Kg. I don't often play standing up!