saguaro_squeezer

I've had too much of the I'll pay you extra and then you pay my shipper routine. But I did have the reverse happen to me with a C.Net purchase, where i was having issues with bank transfer and attempted to just send the money to the seller via Western Union. WU took the money and then called me an hour later and cancelled the transaction because they thought it was a scam. They asked me if I knew the person that I was sending to and I said that we'd corresponded and that it was a part of a purchase but they refused to wire the money. First time I've had that happpen!

Well, if you really wanted one, I could ship it to you.

Just curious if you asked? He seemed like a pretty reasonable fellow when I corresponded with him.

+1 on Chris and I've visited that fabled shed. But on this side of the pond, Greg, you do a pretty fine job of placing concertinas yourself.

I've been looking for cases for my larger concertinas and have been lurking to Etsy, since old industrial cases show up there. However, this caught my eye, especially as he makes them custom and so could probably do any size and then all you would have to do is finish to your liking. Here's the link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/500821392/12-x-12-x-12-hexagonal-hinged-lid-box?ref=shop_home_active_43

I've been the luckiest with UPS and Fedex, but UPS seems to be able to track across borders more easily. Your experiences, of course, may vary.

Mike, you need to post some pictures for us who are in search of Crane porn.

Having read this, I went and checked my bellows and in my stable, (and remembering the Herrington, too) the anglos did seem a bit more flexible, although the 57b Crabb is just as much so, and its bellows are not original, but its reeds are set up like an anglo. It couldn't have to do with that difference, could it? SS

Hi Arkwright, I’d checked with Geoff Crabb and my 8837 is from 1907. It’s a 57b Crane. Interesting (to me anyway) that the reeds are laid out like an Anglo instead of around the outside.

Hi Vern, I have 8837 (1907) and used to have 9987 (1941). 9442 is obviously in between those dates. Maybe early 30s?

Dowright, Alex has opened up Maccann No 894 and found a pencil inscription; 'G.R.B. 8/3/96'. So this tracks with your idea about No. 729, or they were running a special on Maccann repairs in 1896!

I'm just learning about Maccanns but I know that the 57b (while only having two more buttons than my 55) allegedly has much more overlap and starts at C3 on the right, as opposed to G3 on my Lachenal 55b. These are referencing the layouts in Robert Gaskins excellent book, "How to play chords on any Maccann". Here is that link, in case you've not seen it ... http://www.concertina.com/gaskins/chords/Gaskins-How-to-Play-Chords-on-Any-MacCann-Duet-Concertina-3.pdf Perhaps your 62b was a special commission? Dirge, any ideas?

I thought I'd seen that Hayden before. But if it's going to the UK, the buyer must really want it adding duty, VAT and shipping to that $7,995 .... Don, you should probably mark this thread that it's been sold ....

Dowright, I would gladly stand you a round or two! Even a virtual one until we meet.

I believe it is a std 55b Maccann, though didn't Wheatstone just call them Duets? I'm attaching a layout. Should be just like my smaller Lachenal 55b.

I wonder if there's a program out their to help with calculating optimal reed size and weight for a given pitch? That would be fun to play with ... no pun intended.

+1 on the Duets. But then there is s Crabb mini. Perhaps I should hold out for the Cranes...

Freddy, it depends on value. Watch out for declaring rosewood, ebony etc. If you're shipping from UK to USA, use a courier such as transglobal express, since royal mail may not insure for a high enough value. I've use UPS because you can trace it and call them when it hits our customs and pay the fees over the phone.

David, I'll take them. I sent you a PM for Paypal stuff.

And, even though it's Bisonoric, didn't the Chemnitzer and Bandoneon evolve so that the same notes were available on either push or pull? It's a stretch to the topic but there are lots of instances of keyboard works being played on Bandoneon. Some might consider it from the concertina family. Just something to consider as you explore. There are unisonoric Bandoneons, too. So many free-reeds, so little time!

And it's on its way to Alex. He said he'd need an addition to store it and I asked him not to park it out in front on cement blocks, lest his local council have some concerns.

Ever since my early Crane days, I've been searching for an 80 button Crane. Of course, no luck. But while at Kilve, Colin Dipper floated the idea of converting a Maccann to Crane. I don't really want to convert my lovely big Crabb Maccann, but what about building a new set of ends with action that you could swap out with the Maccann ends? You already have the reeds, reed pans, bellows, etc. All you'd need is the action and ends. Would any of the builders out there care to hazard a guess as to the cost? I won't consider it in any way a quote ... just an idea to see if it's even feasable.

I forgot to add this to the previous post and I'm sorry. Josh's diagram for the 80 key had the C# in the 4th column, which, to me, is inside that 3-finger ascending pattern. Since there are no accidentals in that pattern, it makes more sense to me to put the c# in one of the "accidental" (outside) columns (1 or 5).

True, perhaps, but I already have a practical Maccann and I've always wanted that impractical Crane. How does that song go" "Call me, irresponsible ..."

Little John, The only issue that I had until a few minutes ago was that you don't have a place to put either the F#2 or Bb2. I found this thread from back in 2011 where someone asked a similar question and we also got the benefit of Geoff Crabb's input on how the 'plus-size' keyboards were more individual (I think that the 69 key layout that Josh refers to in his post is my previous one) .... So, the 80 key layout in Josh's thread might be good, if you pull the C#2 out to below the F#2 in the rightmost column, just to keep the accidentals in their proper columns!