Henry Harley Concertina assembled

[Bob Tedrow]

Here is a picture of the Henry Harley so far.

 

Other images at http://twitter.com/homewoodmusic

[Dan Worrall]

Bob, it is gorgeous...a unique instrument.

 

It will be very interesting to hear its tone, with those side cutouts. I bet it will make a nice instrument for playing for dances...sound in all directions.

 

Dan

[Bob Tedrow]

Point of interest, this concertina will be tuned in quarter comma meantone, rather than equal temperament. I will record myself playing the concertina (to the best of my ability) in equal temperament (+-2cents) then retune to meantone and record the same little ditty.

 

I am able to do this because I spent hours yesterday tuning the concertina to equal temperament +-2cents ......then looked at the order which clearly requested meantone.

[TomB-R]

That'll be very interesting Bob, look forward to hearing and comparing the two.

 

 

"No such thing as problems, only opportunities."

(Although some opportunities are insoluble!)

[Dirge]

 

I am able to do this because I spent hours yesterday tuning the concertina to equal temperament +-2cents ......then looked at the order which clearly requested meantone.

 

Tut! Surely Dan isn't being difficult AGAIN

[Dan Worrall]

 

I am able to do this because I spent hours yesterday tuning the concertina to equal temperament +-2cents ......then looked at the order which clearly requested meantone.

 

Tut! Surely Dan isn't being difficult AGAIN

Wait a minute! I didn't do anything or even say anything. And no doubt, had Bob not remembered the meantone bit and shipped the instrument to me in ET, I would have thought it sounded great, and showed it off to friends saying, "Isn't meantone great?"!

[Bob Tedrow]

Full photo essay at http://hmi.homewood.net/harley

 

Original Harley concertinas are modest instruments by contemporary standards, but significant because they represent a genre of instruments most often played by musicians of modest income in the 19th century.

[Leonard]

Full photo essay at http://hmi.homewood.net/harley

 

Original Harley concertinas are modest instruments by contemporary standards, but significant because they represent a genre of instruments most often played by musicians of modest income in the 19th century.

 

Awesome, Bob!

 

I think your ends in general are special by the plastic quality of your woodwork:

While fretwork on others concertinas remains more or less a drawing on the surface, in your concertinas the thickness of the wood is an essential part of the fretwork.

 

The Harley has this plastic quality even more by the way you (not) rounded the corners and in the deep lines parallel to the edges:

 

 

A work of art!

 

I wondered before: using hollow-head endbolts gives you the opportunity to countersink them, but you don't.

Is that for aesthetic reasons, or merely technical?

 

Leonard

[LDT]

I think it looks gorgeous. Especially like the way there's fretwork(?) round the edges.

[Dan Worrall]

Beautiful, Bob. Thank you!!

 

Those of you coming to Palestine Old Time Music Festival for the concertina workshops later this week (we have 23 coming this year) will get to caress it.

 

Hmm...What shall the first tune played on it be? Suggestions welcome. Otherwise, I shall play a tune from the ealiest-born player ever recorded. No, not William Mullaly. I'm pretty sure that person is Fred Holland from Australia, b. 1869. Either the Mudgee Waltz or the Mudgee Schottische will do nicely.

 

Dan

[Bruce McCaskey]

Point of interest, this concertina will be tuned in quarter comma meantone, rather than equal temperament. I will record myself playing the concertina (to the best of my ability) in equal temperament (+-2cents) then retune to meantone and record the same little ditty.

 

I am able to do this because I spent hours yesterday tuning the concertina to equal temperament +-2cents ......then looked at the order which clearly requested meantone.

 

Both versions sound good, but I believe I favor the meantone for the harmony, there's a different flavor to it that is quite appealing.