alex_holden Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 Antique clock lubrication is an interesting subject. They use special (very expensive) formulations of thin oil and apply the tiniest of amounts using the point of a needle. I believe it is normal to service clocks every ten years, part of which involves soaking the mechanism in solvent to remove any old dirty oil and then re-oiling. BTW don't do what I did and try to save money by buying a bottle of cheap clock oil on eBay (I wanted a tiny amount to lubricate the main bearing in a classic car speedometer). I think it was actually engine oil thinned in petrol or something - thin when it came out of the bottle, but it smelled bad and after a couple of days it had dried out and gummed up the mechanism. Rod: although 3 in 1 may work in a sewing machine (and I suspect I would use it myself if it was all I had to hand), it is preferable to use specially-forumulated sewing machine oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffrey Crabb Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 The ledger description "Dural all over" simply means that the metal tops are carried to the edge of the instrument, a la Crabb. I would interpret it that way if it said "all over Dural" Geoff, the same way that the ledgers occasionally say "all over metal" when a metal-ended instrument is of a model that would normally have "turned-in" metal ends, but to me "Dural all over" conveys a deliberately different meaning - which would seem to be confirmed by the the instrument in question having all-Dural metalwork... But, as I've said on previous occasions when the ledgers were under discussion, they were keeping workshop records for what they were doing at the time, not compiling historical documents for posterity, so who knows? Well I have put forward my suggestion based on the limited knowledge that I have and although the instrument in question has Dural reed frames, it appears, from the pictures, that the levers are brass so I'll leave it that. Geoffrey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 We'd best ask the seller a question then... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 We'd best ask the seller a question then... OK, Malcolm says they're brass - though it looks remarkably silvery-coloured on my monitor! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveS Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 (edited) We'd best ask the seller a question then... OK, Malcolm says they're brass - though it looks remarkably silvery-coloured on my monitor! They look polished brass to me. Edited November 18, 2014 by SteveS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maki Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 Dr Seuss lives and works writing copy for ebay adds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 They look polished brass to me. Who on earth would ever want to polish the levers? No, never mind, there's plenty of other strange stuff going on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene S. Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 The only Aeolian Restorations I can find on the net seems to be a restorer and tuner of grand pianos. Can't guarantee it's the same outfit, but it is in Galashiels, next door to Earlston where the concertina lives. As for the description (and I speak as an ex advertising copywriter) it does seem to have the reek of adman's sweat about it... Certainly the entry in the Yellow Pages for Aeolian Restorations leads via link to the page for Aeolian Pianos of Galashiels - established 50 years ago. Google Aeolian Restorations and 1897, and you end up with a page devoted to the Aeolian Company. 1897 was a significant year in its history, and it owned and ran Vocalian Records .... but the company was based in the states and went into bankruptcy in the late 1950s.Mysterious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveS Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 (edited) They look polished brass to me. Who on earth would ever want to polish the levers? Concertina bling? Edited November 18, 2014 by SteveS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 They look polished brass to me. Who on earth would ever want to polish the levers? Concertina bling? Inside the ends, where it can't be seen? Wouldn't that miss the point (of bling)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 (edited) They look polished brass to me. Who on earth would ever want to polish the levers? Concertina bling? Inside the ends, where it can't be seen? Wouldn't that miss the point (of bling)? It does seem especially pointless when you consider that "Fine guage silk curtains [have been] applied to rear of fretts" so that you can't see the innards of the instrument anyway when it's assembled. Whilst it may well be that the grey marks in the timber of the action "disc" (or "desk"), around the levers are a result of the unnecessary polishing process - over-cleaning the brass to dirty the timber... Edited November 19, 2014 by Stephen Chambers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Hersh Posted November 22, 2014 Author Share Posted November 22, 2014 (edited) Expired with no bidders, and now relisted at the same price at http://www.ebay.com/itm/CONCERTINA-WHEATSTONE-AEOLA-74-KEY-McCANN-DUET-/171551783520 It's at http://www.ebay.com/itm/CONCERTINA-WHEATSTONE-AEOLA-74-KEY-McCANN-DUET-/171542687028 . Edited November 22, 2014 by Daniel Hersh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Hersh Posted December 14, 2014 Author Share Posted December 14, 2014 Expired with no bidders, and now relisted at the same price at http://www.ebay.com/itm/CONCERTINA-WHEATSTONE-AEOLA-74-KEY-McCANN-DUET-/171551783520 It's at http://www.ebay.com/itm/CONCERTINA-WHEATSTONE-AEOLA-74-KEY-McCANN-DUET-/171542687028 . Back again, at a significantly lower price (£1800 rather than £2500): http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CONCERTINA-WHEATSTONE-AEOLA-74-KEY-McCANN-DUET-/171584350983 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conzertino Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Certainly an impressive instrument. In my opinion the 31.xxx period produced the best instruments!! The case alone must have cost a fortune to do up. The ends remind my of Alf Edward's golden treble! Certainly a sturdy way - and a special order for a special player! Pity I don't play these monsters... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ceemonster Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 the BB has had an incredible 72-b maccann aeola for a couple of months now. i would go with them. it has been all i could do not to purchase it and grit my teeth and take on memorizing the maccann system just to have another fabulous concertina that can play anything....yes, clips can be misleading, but it sounds divine... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene S. Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 No takers at that price,relisted at the same price on 18 December at the same lower price and still no takers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Johnson Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Just a couple of observations: For speed of response, the distance between the tip of the reed tongue and the pad hole can be critical. In general, For reeds of note value C3 and above this distance is normally automatically provided by the length of the reed tongue and reed frame used so the reeds may be fitted to the edge of the reed pan. For reed note values below C3 this distance is variable i.e the lower the note value, the greater the distance required. This distance is achieved by installing the reeds further from the edge of the reed pan. Note the differences of inset in the picture of the left pan. Geoffrey More nuggets from Geoff's gold mine. I hope we all live to a ripe old age, but Geoff, leave us a treasure map before you decide you've had enough of this world.Dana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Hersh Posted March 17, 2015 Author Share Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) Back again, at £2000 this time: http://www.ebay.com/itm/WHEATSTONE-AEOLA-74-KEY-REFURBISHED-McCANN-DUET-CONCERTINA-CASE-/171722134975 The text has been edited to be a bit less bizarre: Here is a unique refurbished instrument with original, now refurbished case included. The Concertina No. 31681 & Case have been sypathetically renovated by Aeolian restoration, established in 1897, leading Antique / Historic Instrument Specialists. The tone is resonent, powerful & bright with a fast, smooth responsive action. Scale compass - Treble - middle C - up 3 octaves to C. Bass - middle C - down 1 octave & fifth to F. It has a sub-base C, pitched 2 octaves down from middle C (last note at bottom of 6th row left side). Dimensions - 24cm X 24cm X 18cm (bellows closed). Case-work professionally stripped & repolished in ebonised matte finish. The 8 fold Bellows are in excellent air-tight, like new condition with incredible compression. The Fretts have been reburnished & have a bright mirror, siver finish without any blemish or discolouration. The photos illustrate the contrast between daylight & artificial light. The action plate Key Hole Bushings have been replaced & new straps fitted. Key Lever guide holes rebushed. Pads & Valves are in lovely condition & being un-used for many years are still in perfect flexible air-tight order. The steel Reeds, having been repolished are pristine & tuned to A440 Hz Concert pitch. The refurbished carrying case is in top quality exotic grain leather with new fittings & handle (original lock retained). The interior is lined with Merino Baize - now looks superb - now worth about £300. The Concertina's late owner (from new) purchased the Concertina as a special commission from Wheatstone. He used H Crabb for tuning / servicing. After the owner's demise in the early 1970's, it lay until recently undisturbed in a wardrobe. This is probably one of the best examples for sale anywhere. Sold without reserve. Enquiries or inspection welcome. Tel 01896 848041. Buy with confidence. Happy bidding. International postage will be calculated after selling - USA / Australia - approx. £70 Edited March 17, 2015 by Daniel Hersh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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