What our concertinas look like?

[JimR]

5 hours ago, McCarthy said:

Finally got time to take a family photo as our squeezebox family continues to grow down here in Virginia!

 

Which instrument do you pick up most often?

[McCarthy]

9 minutes ago, JimR said:

Which instrument do you pick up most often?

Definitely the Clover concertina. I'm an anglo player and I'm looking to downsize a lot of these instruments in the near future. I recently (yesterday) acquired a Wheatstone anglo with metal ends located in the middle of the picture and thats a 50 key instrument with a very chromatic layout. I hope this becomes my main squeeze sooner rather than later, it's just going to take some major adjustment from a playing and fingering standpoint. I also really enjoy the Baritone with the dark rosewood ends, that is a treat to play and the Jay concertina is pretty fun too! It's a G/D.

 

Feels like heaven surrounded by all these wonderful instruments, very fortunate!

[Duncan Luddite]

G'day Everyone,

I'm new to this, though have had a love of concertinas for some years, but they were *way* out of my price range A few weeks ago my wife and I were in an antique shop, the owner of which we've known for over 25years, and I spotted this 32 button English concertina. The shop owner came over as we were looking over it (and listening to it), looked at the price and said, "1/3 of that for you!". That put it in the affordable range for us.
Is getting a thorough clean out as it was filthy inside (see forth photo of the right hand baffle), the straps and finger covers were perished/missing. Putting my experience in shoemaking and antiquarian watchmaking to use. The new, vegetable tanned Kangaroo hide, thumb straps look better now as, with more dye and neutral shoe polish, they've darkened to a closer match to the bellows green.

When I got the reed pan out, I found the stamp in copper plate of JA for Jabez Austin, No. 196. That means it was made in the 1850's. Rosewood, and 850gms.
The ivory buttons have very little wear to the sides.
Still cleaning it, but really looking forward to learning to play 😁 Have a printed out, and bound, copy of Frank Butler's, 'Concertina Tutor'.
Also in the process of making a case for it.
Sorry, I tend to be wordy 😬
Cheers
Duncan Luddite

 

[Geoff Wooff]

A  lovely  thing  Duncan!!  Good  luck  with  it.

[David Barnert]

5 hours ago, Duncan Luddite said:

Also in the process of making a case for it.

 

Is that the case you’re making in the bottom photo?

 

You don’t want to store the instrument vertically like that (with ends at top and bottom). The downward-facing valves (the ones that face the bellows and close on the push at the top end and the ones that face the fretwork and close on the draw at the bottom end) will hang away from the reed pan and develop a curl preventing them from closing all the way when you need them (ie., while you are playing). Always store the instrument horizontally (both ends at the same level, left and right).

Edited October 15, 2024 by David Barnert
added Duncan’s quote

[Duncan Luddite]

G'day David,
Yes, I'd come across that advice a week or two ago. I'll be putting 'feet' along one side of the case for laying the concertina down correctly when not being used
Cheers

[4to5to6]

Are you putting veneer on the existing case or building a new one?  PM me if you need some original hex case hardware.  I have lots of it. 😄 

[Duncan Luddite]

Thanks for the offer, but building one from scratch
Went to a clockmaking friend today, and we put the brass reeds through his cleaning solutions and ultrasonic baths. With a bit of careful hand brass brushing in between washes they've come up, on the whole, like new and, most importantly, the 11+ reeds that weren't voicing at all are loud and clear (and either in, or near, tune). Saved me many hours of painstaking hand cleaning (which I did for the first 20 odd reeds).
Cheers

[Cathasach]

New concertina day!

 

This gorgeous 28 button C/G arrived yesterday from barleycorn, in time for my birthday *and* our bay area concertina meet up!

 

It is absolutely wonderful to play and the slightly larger buttons make it even easier on my big old fingers.

[Matthew Heumann]

I've been thoroughly enjoying the 1904 Lachenal Edeophone 56-button elongated Baritone that I picked up last year (from concertinashop.com.au). Like any antique instrument, I wanted to give it my own once-over improvements. It had an amazing woodwind tone, fast action and the tightest bellows I've ever encountered (50 sec+ drop time, for a 5 lb+ concertina no less). But the ebony was old and needed some stabilization, bushings, pads, a few valves; all the usual things that need to be replaced over the years. I think the finished concertina is outstanding and at times I can't tell if I'm playing it or it's playing me, a pure joy and a very unusual box! Here are the pics:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/i7ljtnieryzu0pg97jq6l/AF-MMNc05piakekgGpTpBt8?rlkey=jbs56jm149452n7l6xnbk0lln&st=4oybtae6&dl=0

[d.elliott]

Excellent Instrument Matthew, a couple of observations, I hope the felt that you used round the keys was woven felt rather than needled and matted felt. I am also surprised at the use of a hard finish under the fretting, and wonder if that deadened or altered the tone of the instrument in play.

 

[Matthew Heumann]

On 2/15/2025 at 6:22 AM, d.elliott said:

Excellent Instrument Matthew, a couple of observations, I hope the felt that you used round the keys was woven felt rather than needled and matted felt. I am also surprised at the use of a hard finish under the fretting, and wonder if that deadened or altered the tone of the instrument in play.

 

David: I always use Ultrasuede (a non-woven synthetic, but ultra fine microfibre) for bushings and gaskets because its more stable with regard to humidity and doesn't compact or  turn stiff and brittle with age (comes in a variety of colors and thickness). It also takes any glues just like felt or chamois and does not fray like wool felt.The special epoxy under the fretwork actually penetrates deeply into the ebony to solidify it (used to harden decaying wood in boats) and prevent crumbling. Its very thin & runny, so it may look like a coating, but its more of a glossy residue. Didn't affect the sound at all and should reinforce the fine scroll work for decades more and is waterproof to further protect the wood.

 

Here's a link for ultrasuede info:

https://www.toray.com/global/news/details/20181120000487.html

 

Link to epoxy: https://www.totalboat.com/products/penetrating-epoxy-sealer?srsltid=AfmBOoocH5HkeQEVRWLVBnNhMNtQHWTVi5oGljZqsh56eXlaGy5deIn_

Edited February 18 by Matthew Heumann
corrections and additions

[d.elliott]

On 2/18/2025 at 4:50 PM, Matthew Heumann said:

David: I always use Ultrasuede (a non-woven synthetic, but ultra fine microfibre) for bushings and gaskets because its more stable with regard to humidity and doesn't compact or  turn stiff and brittle with age (comes in a variety of colors and thickness). It also takes any glues just like felt or chamois and does not fray like wool felt.The special epoxy under the fretwork actually penetrates deeply into the ebony to solidify it (used to harden decaying wood in boats) and prevent crumbling. Its very thin & runny, so it may look like a coating, but its more of a glossy residue. Didn't affect the sound at all and should reinforce the fine scroll work for decades more and is waterproof to further protect the wood.

 

Here's a link for ultrasuede info:

https://www.toray.com/global/news/details/20181120000487.html

 

Link to epoxy: https://www.totalboat.com/products/penetrating-epoxy-sealer?srsltid=AfmBOoocH5HkeQEVRWLVBnNhMNtQHWTVi5oGljZqsh56eXlaGy5deIn_

 

Thanks for the clarification Matthew, I have heard of the 'total boat' before, but not in economical quantities in the UK. the Ultrasuede is new to me. As I hardly ever have the luxury of working on my own concertinas I don't think I could stray away from the original build materials on someone else's property. Especially when you consider that the original materials has a track record of well over 150 years before needing replacement we don't know how long synthetic substitutes might last. On one's own property you can do what you want.

 

A parallel is the repair to the roof of the York Minster after the fire a few years ago. Several of the main roof beams were destroyed. The Institution of Structural Engineers considered all sorts of  alternative materials but ended up selecting Oak as nothing else (stainless steels composites etc.), could be shown to have a life of 900 years..... Not quite the same but it illustrates the point.

[Matthew Heumann]

David: You are definitely correct about working on other people's concertinas. So far my Ultrasuede replacements has lasted over 10 years, with no issues, and since even 100 year old concertinas need regular replacing of bushings & gaskets, I suspect it won't need replacing anymore often than wool felt & I find it easier to work with than felt for tiny parts like bushings. By the way, it has stretch properties similar to leather (stretches in one direction, but not 90 degrees from that). Still using leather for valves and pads though. Next project replacing thumb-straps with traditional materials, though i might line the thumb loop itself with Ultrasuede because its softer and doesn't suffer from exposure to sweat and skin oils.

 

Fortunately, we can buy the penetrating epoxy in pints & quarts ($39-$58).