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Wheatstone 1T 48 button Crane Duet. S/N 35883. Nice original condition. Just tuned and pads / valves replaced as needed. Comes with original Wheatstone case. I bought this a few months ago because I thought I wouldn't find a 35 button Wheatstone Crane. Now, I've found one and since I already have a 48 button Lachenal, I don't need two Cranes of that size. I do like the fact that this instrument is very light and responsive with a sweet rich tone in the lower left hand. Its said that the early 50's instruments are not from the golden period, so, I won't charge like that. I have £850 in it without shipping. That's about $1100, without packing and shipping, and that's what I'll offer it up for. I would also entertain a possible trade for a 46 button or bigger Maccann.

I've got one or two of those. You know, I didn't even think about that because it would mean storing like the old hexagonal cases. I'll have to try that.

And when you get into the outsized instruments, it becomes more like the original, "A good case is hard to find" ....

Here are a few of mine ... I'd posted the Christmas tree in another thread: Top : Tedrow C/G 'Harley' Anglo Middle : Lachenal 48b Crane, Herrington G/D Anglo, Wheatstone 48b Crane Bottom : Connor 55b Crane, Crabb 79b Maccann, Crabb 57b Crane The 57b Crabb has, I believe, the plated brass ends and reed layout like an anglo, so it is a decidedly different instrument from say, the Connor or the Crabb Maccann with the more usual duraluminum ends. Though not quite a conertina in the usual sense, I had to show the Shone Matthias Bandoneon because it has an amazing sound and is truly beautiful in its gold-coloured casework. It also goes down to A1 on the left hand! I also have a couple of Arno Arnold Chemnitzers (one called a 'Slim Line') that are great fun, if you don't mind playing the equivalent of an apartment complex!

Well, the Crabbs aren’t heavy, it’s just that this Wheatstone is super light by comparison. Might be because of the model or the year. But you’re right about aluminum. My Crabb is a 1908 and has, I think, brass shoes. The ends are not the duraluminium ones like my former 69, so am not sure. My big Crabb Maccann has those duralumimium ends and yes, is quite light for its size.

rcr27, yes, it's in Concert pitch. I really like that it weighs precious little compared to my metal ended Crabb. I've got £850 in it, without the shipping, and would take that to let it leave the stable. I hadn't really thought about selling it ...

Actually, I was poking at springhub, but if you're interested ... The Wheatstone in question is a 48. Since I have a Lachenal 48, I don't need two. Greg Jowaisas had a 35 that I'm getting at the end of the month. I've since had it gone over and repaired the handle on the case.

So you're saying that you want that 48-key Wheatstone that I bought?

I guess it depends on what you had to give for it.

I bought that one, Springhub, since I had been looking for a 35key Wheatstone and had not been able to find one. It was a model 1-T, 48 keys, plastic buttons but after some minor cleaning it plays pretty nicely. The seller was very easy to work with.

Mike, I'd love to see a picture of your 80-key Crabb!

Google translate says: I sell concert number 22167, approximately 1880, in good condition. Repair of any parts was not carried out, it is not required. Price 500,000 rubles, bargaining is appropriate. Not tempered sound sequence, there is no anharmonic equal sounds

RAc and rcr27, From my experience, more EC players try Crane than Anglo players since they're both unisonic and have a regularity of pattern in their layout. The IS a market for Cranes or Chris wouldn't be able to command what he does for the ones that he sells, compared to Maccanns which some find daunting. A reasonable 35-key Crane in good fettle should bring around $750. Like other duets, the more keys the merrier but even a 35 should be able to play in most keys ... albeit with some inversions in the chords. There's a lot of music in an octave and a fourth ... Just my opinion and worth, of course, what you've paid for it!

I’m torn because I would take my Crabb 57 or my Herrington Anglo. The Herrington is as rugged as the come but the Crabb is my overall favourite. I use the ‘correct’ spelling when I’m serious!

Here is a box that I really hate to sell, since I bought it this summer to learn on. It's a Hohner Presswood D/G that has an upgraded keyboard and has been fettled by Mike Rowbotham. I've added new back strap for more hand room and a case. It's Bandoneon-tuned. A sound clip may be found here: https://soundcloud.com/microbot-2/dg-bandoneon-pressedwood-2nd-take?fbclid=IwAR39t6Mrl3uvwedJ88RmZK6TElpjcYtAxshcylYdeMyMduJYXfMP1Dvpv7M Not my playing, by the way. Trouble is, I've found this really wonderful Crabb Crane Duet concertina that I've been in search of for quite a while. So, I'm going to let this go for $500 USD plus shipping. It's in great condition, has a good case, a strap and will give you a lot of enjoyment.

RAc, you're echoing my thoughts, exactly. Far less overlap and greater range. I know that my 57b Crabb (1907) has a reed-pan like an anglo, rather than in a circle around the outside. Wonder if instruments of the 48-55b size would take reeds down to that elusive low C2?

Wolf, back when I first started on Crane, I was lucky enough to acquire a 69-key Crabb Crane from Chris Algar. It was how I was fortunate enough to meet Geoff Crabb. It is #9978 in the c raneconcertina.com gallery. I'm attaching the layout that Geoff provided for me. Sadly, I had to sell it to help fund some medical issues that came up for my wife. The one thing that I'd always wanted with it was that the LH would go down to C2 (or C-2 in Geoff's diagram) and I looked continually for an instrument with that range. That is why I bought the large Maccann - other than the fact that Crabb Maccanns are allegedly pretty rare and this one was a really good deal. It does seem though, from mine and Peter Smith's diagram of his 67, that the layouts become a bit more individual once the numbers go above the 59-61 button range. The current Crabb that I'm working on is a 66, with a 7-row RH and a 6-row LH plus, I believe, low F (it doesn't show in the pictures). I've not had it physically in-hand yet, so don't know if it starts on G or C. No, don't think I'll be selling that big Maccann just yet. Dirge was always fond of saying that real men play Maccann and so I have to give it an honest try, at least to convince myself that I either can or can't!

Hi Ross, It's over there too, but I thought, just in case.

Rich, I've had really good luck with the Pelican/Hardigg cases ... they're polymer and you may have to get creative with the inside, depending on whether or not you want bellows compression, etc. They come with a customizable open-cell foam. I usually keep the 'tina in a protective silk or velvet bag for additional finish protection. Since they're virtually unbreakable and good water protection, I'd have a look. https://www.pelicancasesforless.com/t-pelican-case-sizes.aspx

I purchased this in the summer, then promptly bought danersen's Shoma Bandoneon ... which is also C-system but larger range. I've found a big Crabb Crane that I'm keen to buy and so only need to keep one. This bandoneon was gone through and tuned by Harry Geuns in his shop and so is ready to go. Quite a lot of fun to play and really responsive. It does have the upgraded smaller pearloid buttons and a nice soft case with backpack straps. I have 1300 Euro in it, you can have it for $1000 plus shipping.

No worries, Dowright, I sent you one. Cheers!

Keep me in mind for a wee Crabb!

My lovely wife got me Gary Coover's excellent "Cowboy Concertina" and Ross Duffin's "How Equal Temperment Ruined Harmony (and Why You Should Care)". And Greg Jowaisas has a 35b Crane with my name on it. I'm starting with inner peace while working towards the world version!

Thanks, David. Most interesting. I guess the joy of being a novice is that you get to ask the less-informed questions ... but hopefully not too many times!

Little John, well after reading the book, I think that I'm going to test out some of the tunings on my double-strung harp, so that I can easily switch and compare them. I want to see if 1/6-comma mean tone is better than ET, and might have one of the duets tuned to it. I know that we had a couple of accoustics courses when I got my Music degree many moons ago and this has awakend that interest again ... hopefully for the better!