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Hi there - my first post here after a few years' membership, but in unfortunate circumstances as I'd like to ask you good people to keep an eye open for my dad's Wheatstone Boyd English concertina which we hope is merely lost, to reappear soon, but fear may have been stolen. My dad's name is Michael Ratliff - some of you may know of him from various folk and traditional music circles in the North East of England over the past 60 years. He was attending Cambridge Folk Festival over the weekend and helping with the Northumbrian music workshops, which is why he had his instruments with him, and he set down the concertina (in a small flight case, itself in a blue rucksack) while helping my mam into a wheelchair at the end of Friday night; when he returned to where his stuff was it'd gone. They're now en route back to Newcastle having informed the festival organisers, the police, Chris Algar (from whom it was originally purchased, and who'll recognise it immediately if it should pop up), Alistair Anderson (an old friend, who's played this box many times and will also recognise it), and various others via word of mouth and social media. But no leads yet. The box is a Wheatstone Boyd English concertina, as pictured, in exceptionally good condition. I've never seen or heard another as good and - like any Boyd - it cuts through in a session and always makes its presence felt. My dad's still a gigging musician in his 70s, having started in his teens, so this box is not only his pride and joy but also his means to work, to fundraise for the local hospice with other Northumbrian musicians, and to run the Blue Bell session in Northumberland. I'll loan him my Lachenal Boyd in the meantime but, as anyone who's compared a Wheatstone and a Lachenal Boyd will know, it's not quite in the same league. We know the serial number, in case somebody comes across a suspect instrument and would like to check. It's only got its original 5-fold bellows but they've been well maintained. The veneer and metalwork is in very good nick, despite this photo not being great. I'll be happy to answer any questions anyone has, and thanks in advance for any help! Admin: if this isn't in the right place, apologies! I saw a lost/stolen thread but it's closed and I couldn't reply; perhaps this could be added to that?

I just read another stolen concertina story. I imagine we all are pained and even perhaps feel the loss when we hear of such incidents. I know I do. I have been thinking about something for quite some time now and suppose that it is worth putting on the table at this point. But the technology for identifying things has grown enormously. We "chip" our cats and dogs. We attach "tiles" to out key rings. There are now GPS units to track almost everything. And I am sure that there are other technologies that I am not aware of. AND, in most cases, these can be hidden or are at least unobtrusive. Has anyone ever thought of or tried using such a system with their concertina. For example a "chip" or tile or something else hidden inside the bellows, or under the inside lining of a concertina case? I was looking at one type of unit by the company: https://store.thetrackr.com/ Here, if you lose something, EVERYONE on who has the system will be alerted if it should come in close proximity to their iPhone etc. if they have the app. It is their unit, “bravo”; and as part of the bundle, there is a system for alerting the owner. I once had an incident where a student of mine lost their iPhone, and we went to a computer in the next room and followed the phone down the highways, into the streets, and into a home. We knew the city, street, and house into which unit went (thankfully, here, it was an innocent mistake and everything worked out just fine). There must be a cost-effective way of tracking lost concertinas !! Any thoughts?? And, thanks in advance.

Hi everyone, I am very sad to report that my Edgley C/G concertina has been stolen. I have filed a police report and called all the local Tucson shops. I am checking ebay regularly, but is there anything else I can do? This was my spare concertina, since I got my Carrol, so I did not play it all that frequently, but I still loved it and am really really sad about it. If you see this instrument, please let me know? It was a Wheatstone layout, modified to have C#'s as followed (rt outside row) Push/Pull: C#/C# C#/D# G#/G high-C#/high-D# high-A/high-F Thank you for any ideas on how to look for it! Claire (520)-869-8553, clairezu247@gmail.com

I've just seen this notice in our local folk email newsletter (south-west England): STOLEN CONCERTINA Metal-ended Anglo-German type; hexagonal, black leather bellows, serial number on oval ACNORMAN6/96. 1. Please let me know if you spot this in cash-converters, on line etc. If possible, buy it and I'll reimburse you. 2. Anyone got an Anglo for sale? All sorts considered. Many thanks. Ann Hinchliffe Music leader, samedifference dance www.samedifference.net annhinchliffe@hotmail.com Ann clearly does marvelous work with her music in residential homes and day care centres for older adults. Please keep an eye out.

Please help Caroline Regan track down her stolen Concertina; It is a Wheatstone 40 key anglo with black bellows and metal ends. It was stolen this afternoon (Sunday 15th December) from the Crown Moran Hotel in Cricklewood. The case was dumped outside the pub. If you see or hear of anything please get in touch with Caroline at caz4regan (at) hotmail.com Caroline would be extremely grateful for any help spreading this message far and wide Thanks

Hi - i am not sure if this is the right forum, but I had my concertina stolen in Zvolen, Slovakia on 1st August when visiting family, and I want to circulate the details to as many people as possible in case it makes its way back to the UK market. I am very attached to it! Any ideas? I have contacted several main dealers and the International Concertina Association. It is a 1928 Wheatstone English treble concertina, hexagonal with rosewood ends and the registration number is 29331. Please let me know if this is not the correct forum. Debbie