Dowright

The semi-miniature Norman has 13 keys and is in the key of G. It has been sold.

In my PICA article on miniature concertinas, I defined "miniature" as 3 3/4 inches or less across the ends. My AC Norman Anglo is just slightly wider--4 inches across, which I call "semi-miniature," but almost everbody else calls "miniature." It has 13 keys plus an air key, wood fretwork, golden metal buttons, steel reeds, and 6-fold maroon leather bellows. It is in the key of G (2 octaves) with accidentals (notes not in the key of G--Ab (G#), C#, and F). It is best for playing in the keys of C, D, G, and A (major or minor). It has straps and handrails which make it much easier to play than the smaller miniatures. It has a hard case. I paid about $1700 a number of years ago. AC Norman still advertises them (see his website) but I do not know his current price. I am asking half my cost--$850--plus $50 for shipping/insurance. If interested, please send a personal message including an email address, amd I will send photos and a key layout diagram. Dowright

Little John, I do not understand how the layout of a 48-key 4-column English concertina can have anything in common with a one octave 8-key or a 12-key (with triangular layout pattern on each side). You say "standard English layout with fewer buttons." Are you simply referring to the back and forth scale pattern across sides? I covered that subject in the original post of this thread.

On Tuesday, 20 July 2021, I posted that two English and one Anglo miniature were for sale. The miniature Anglo has been sold. The 12 Key Wheatstone and Crabb English miniatures are still available. For more information, see my 20 July posting and, if interested, send me a personal message. I feel that it is important for me to indicate that "English" 12-key miniature is sort of a misnomer. A full-size English concertina (48 keys) has inside rows of natural notes and outside rows of accidental notes. The 12 key English miniature is nothing like that layout. The only reasons that it is called "English" is because it has the same note on the push and the draw of an individual button and because a scale is played by going back and forth from side to side. Using the twelve buttons is nothing like learning the layout of a 48-key English concertina. Note that air management is a major issue for miniature concertinas, and air management is much easier on an "English" miniature than on an Anglo miniature. You do not run out of air on an "English" miniature, since you can get the particular note in either direction of the bellows. Yes, there are only 12 notes, but compare that to the only 9 notes of the highland pipes, which have an extensive repertory. Tommy Elliot, the "King" of the 12 key English miniature, had a sizeable inventory of musical selections. Yes, playing requires going from side to side. But consider that, if you play in the cross-row style of Anglo--rather than along the row--you also are very frequently alternating from left side to right side to left side, etc.. On balance, playing a miniature 12-key "English" is immensely easier than playing a 12-key Anglo miniature.

I am selling a Wheatstone 12-key English miniature, a Crabb 12-key English miniature, and a 10-key Anglo miniature. They are: Wheatstone No. 25114 (1940). 2 3/4" hexagonal ends with crimped metal fretwork. Metal buttons, steel reeds, 8-fold leather bellows. Original fitted hard case. Crabb No. 17553 (circa 1965). 2 7/8" hexagonal ends with crimped metal fretwork. Metal buttons, steel reeds, 8-fold bellows. Original fitted hard case. The 12-key layouts on the Wheatstone and Crabb are identical. 10-key Anglo system miniature (maker not identified, but most likely by George Jones). 2 5/8" hexagonal metal ends, bone buttons, and 10-fold bellows. Key of C. More often, Anglo miniatures are in other keys. 10-fold rather than 8-fold bellows are also unusual. Even though it has only 10 keys, it has two full octaves of C above middle C plus accidentals of Ab, Bb, C#, Eb, and F#. Fitted wood case. I am pricing them at US $1200 each. I will pay the shipping and insurance. If you buy more than one, it wii save on shipping cost per item. If you buy two, deduct $100 from the total cost, If you buy all three, deduct $200 from the total cost. I will take payment in a bank check or a personal check. I do not use PayPal. If interested and want more information, send me a person message at this site. I will be happy to provide photos and key layout diagrams.

I have a 10-key miniature Anglo Concertina (unknown maker) with extremely stiff 8-fold bellows. I am wondering if anyone has used Leather softener/stretcher on bellows. If done successfully, I would be interested in the brand name. There are many brands advertised at Amazon. I guess primarily it is used for shoes and/or gloves. Any information would be much appreciated. I recognize that the stiffness of the bellows may be due to the inherent construction rather than the pliability of the leather.

rar27 No 172103 Circa 1902 Paul Draper No 149617 Circa 1896 Hewene No 164988 Circa 1898 Len2307 No 152698 Circa 1896

Yes, I obviously was in too much of a hurry. It is No. 32801 circa 1894. And No 32621--not 32821 or 32921. No 32621 is a 56 key Excelsior with glass buttons. . No 32620 is a 48 key Excelsior. .

Bazza12, No 58176 circa 1922 (No 58870 has 19 December 1922 bill of sale) No 35035 circa 1896

Paul, No 3281 circa 1894 (No 32620 has 1894 bill of sale; No 32621 has March 1895 bill of sale)

Eddystone, No. 181530 was made circa 1908

Doug, No. 122941 made circa 1892.

Joe, No. 107572 made circa 1889.

No 42070 was made circa 1877.