Tiposx Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 I posted negatively in December about my poor experience of dealing with Concertina Spares. I have also been contacted privately by two other people who have had bad experiences but wish to remain anonymous. I am always usual silent about such things but I just don't think it is an acceptable way to do business. And yet good can grow out of bad - I won't order anything else from this supplier so I have been pushed into making my own parts. I have just completely restored an ec using only parts I have made myself from the basic materials. Not the bellows but everything else - pads, valves, end screws, leather and brass parts, even a button! So it can be done. Tiposx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Barnert Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 2 hours ago, Stephen Chambers said: For Wheatstone parts I'd go to C. Wheatstone & Co.: http://www.wheatstone.co.uk/ Not necessarily. A few years ago I had to replace an end bolt on an instrument that Dickinson built himself (a Hayden from the 1980s). I first contacted the Button Box. They didn’t have the right part, and they contacted Wheatstone. He didn’t have it either. I wound up having to go to a local machinist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex West Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 (edited) Congratulations to you for making the effort to go back to basics. However, I must put in a positive comment about Mark and Concertina Spares. He has been slow in fulfilling some orders due to his health issues - which he's been honest about - but the items I've ordered from him both before and after Christmas have all been sent with a minimum of chasing and met my requirements perfectly. I too make a lot of my own repair and maintenance spares but if you need a good match of a reed, button, lever or whatever for an historic instrument, Mark is one of the first places I'd try and his prices are extremely reasonable. I'd also go to Steve Dickinson if I needed a match for a Wheatstone part (Not sure why he wouldn't have a matching bolt as he does make his own) or if I needed something of superior quality (for example a new reed to match and blend with existing ones) to what might be available from Mark's historic spares. Alex West Edited May 17, 2020 by Alex West Post crossed with another relevant item Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4to5to6 Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 (edited) Concertina Spares is the only place that I know of as a major source to get those old vintage bits and pieces. Thankfully these instruments were built by hand with simple machines which made them so good and long lasting. So any of the parts including buttons, levers, reeds, etc (except maybe a glass button) can be built in a small shop with the simplest of equipment and tools. The good old days!!! Has there yet come along anything better than leather! A carbon fibre Concertina with ceramic reeds and plastic bellows anyone? I hope everything is ok with Mark and as I said, he did apologize and I am hoping again to soon get my parts. I just picked up a late c.1895 Lachenal baritone with two missing button tops which got me thinking about all this again and so asked him to add these to the order as well. To answer a comment... I am sure I could make these parts myself with a small lathe, some nickel tubing... soldering some silver discs to the tops. I have the skill set but I don’t have a small lathe or the material and it’s really not worth it to get one as I restore maybe one concertina every 2 or 3 years for my personal use. Maybe someone can start an online database where everyone can list all their spare bits and pieces. I know I have a bunch that I could share. I put my name on Wim Walker’s wait list over two years ago to get a new EC built in 2022 so hopefully my woes will come to an end with a lifelong instrument but the vintage ones really do have something special about them. I really do need the help of someone like Mark at Concertina Spares to keep me going with the concertina in the mean time so hopefully things will work out. Edited May 18, 2020 by 4to5to6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiposx Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 I have made buttons from T6 aluminium that polish up nicely and look similar to nickel without a magnifying glass. Not historically accurate but it works well and would get the instrument playing again. Black acetal looks exactly like the original Lachenal tutor accidental buttons. I havent tried any white or red though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Smith Posted May 20, 2020 Share Posted May 20, 2020 I placed an order with Concertina Spares and it arrived in a week. So things are improving. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiddleC Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 I've never dealt with Mark but I phoned on Saturday and spoke to his daughter who I think told me he was taking a rest. I asked if I could send an email outlining my wants and she said OK. The email went off and included my phone number, hoping I'd get a response today. It may be he is unwell or extremely busy but I can't wait to find out and like everyone else I'm stuck for a UK supplier so it's off to America, online of course to Concertina Connections. Baz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiposx Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 An update on my earlier post in which I described poor service from Concertina-Spares. I needed some parts that I do not have the tools to create myself. So despite my comments that I would not deal with this supplier again I blinked, and on 10th September I ordered the part via the website, paying Mark Lloyd-Adey with Paypal. I am most pleased to report that the parts arrived today, 18th September. As before, they are high quality items. Credit where it is due. Tiposx 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Moffat Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 I think I've given up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavel Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 Yes I'm getting no reply whatsoever regarding an order placed in early April. I assume Mark is out of business permanently? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveS Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 On 6/1/2020 at 2:02 PM, MiddleC said: I'm stuck for a UK supplier so it's off to America, online of course to Concertina Connections. There is another UK supplier - I can't find their details but something like Cornwall or Cornwell - maybe someone here can provide details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Takayuki YAGI Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 9 minutes ago, SteveS said: There is another UK supplier - I can't find their details but something like Cornwall or Cornwell - maybe someone here can provide details. Maybe this one ? http://www.concertinas-uk.co.uk/repairs.htm Located Devon near Cornwall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Smith Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 I visited Mark Lloyd-Adey three weeks ago to drop off a concertina for tuning, as I was passing through Cemmaes. He looks very busy with concertina restorations and repairs, which may explain the delay in sending out orders for parts. He is very much still in business. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIMON GABRIELOW Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 Suggestion; there's obviously a gap in the market for another concertina repairer and craftsmen... A possible lucrative business in the making for enterprising individual out there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjcjones Posted May 26, 2022 Share Posted May 26, 2022 I was going to phone Mark today to chase up some new straps I ordered some weeks ago, when they arrived in this morning's post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveS Posted May 27, 2022 Share Posted May 27, 2022 On 5/26/2022 at 11:53 AM, Takayuki YAGI said: Maybe this one ? http://www.concertinas-uk.co.uk/repairs.htm Located Devon near Cornwall. Nope not this one. The one I'm thinking of is a leather supplier, but also provides concertina spares. I'll see if I can find the details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Takayuki YAGI Posted May 27, 2022 Share Posted May 27, 2022 36 minutes ago, SteveS said: Nope not this one. The one I'm thinking of is a leather supplier, but also provides concertina spares. I'll see if I can find the details. How about this ? https://www.cacornish.co.uk/musical-instruments/ Not located in Cornwall but the name is Cornish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveS Posted May 29, 2022 Share Posted May 29, 2022 On 5/27/2022 at 12:43 PM, Takayuki YAGI said: How about this ? https://www.cacornish.co.uk/musical-instruments/ Not located in Cornwall but the name is Cornish. Thanks - super - that's the one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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