Odd square miniature on eBay UK

[Daniel Hersh]

Some photos below.  Listing (with more photos, including internal ones) is at https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313869355356 .  Perhaps someone's homemade project from long ago?

 

[Takayuki YAGI]

Interesting to see two different shapes of hooked action in the 4th photo of the listing. And we can see no air release, so English or Duet ?

[Takayuki YAGI]

If you refer to Randall Merris's article in PICA vol. 9, you will find examples of 8 buttons, but all hexagonal. I have never seen a rectangular miniature.

Edited February 10, 2022 by Takayuki YAGI
typo

[Konzertina-123]

Actually I made something quite similar a few years ago :

 

[Takayuki YAGI]

Pictures of the reedpans were posted on instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ2fGObI_Fj/

Edited February 11, 2022 by Takayuki YAGI
typo

[Stephen Chambers]

And I thought my little 2" Wheatstone one (shown beside a normal-size matchbox for scale), #32151, was tiny! 😳

 

 

 

[gcoover]

Got it! I will bring it to the Old Palestine concertina weekend, and happy to answer any questions once I have it in hand.

 

Smallest concertina ever? Maybe!

 

Gary

[Takayuki YAGI]

Congratulations Gary. It must be the smallest. Not a concertina but even smaller than Alex Holden's Bellpush. Compared to this rectangular one my miniature anglo (2.75 in across the flats) looks far bigger.

Edited February 16, 2022 by Takayuki YAGI
typo

[David Helmore]

Well done Gary - I was one of the many underbidders!

 

Would love to hear more about it once it arrives with you - enjoy!!

[Alan Day]

I was invited to go to a music museum near Paris to play concertina along with other French Musicians for a French TV station. When I arrived there were many instruments there on display in cabinets (similar to the Horniman museum) and I noticed a little miniature concertina and I asked if I could have a go at playing it. It turned out to be a miniature Anglo. The only way I could hold it was by little finger and thumb both hands. After about ten minutes I got A little tune out of it (Oscar Woods Jig). Only to be asked if I could be televised playing it. I think the camera going over my shoulder to home in on it ,was the point where most people who saw it said I looked terrified. The pain of holding it ,combined with the ten minutes practice amplified my concerns. I was told that "Aint Misbehaving" that I played on my Jeffries was much more relaxed that I played later.

Al

[gcoover]

Update - the mini (micro?) arrived today. 8-button EC, 1.5" x 2" on the ends and about 4.5" long when resting - fits nicely in an old iPhone box with room to spare.

 

Mixture of steel and brass reeds, the reedpans are held in with two tiny screws. No markings inside other than "L" and "R".

 

How does it sound? Dunno, it's pretty leaky. I can hear an "e" an octave above middle "C" that appears to be in modern pitch, just not sure where it's coming from. 

 

Attached are couple of photos of the innards from the original listing.

 

I've reached out to the seller asking if they know anything about its history.

 

I'll be bringing it to Greg Jowaisas after the Old Pal Concertina Weekend in hopes he can work his magic on it and make it as playable as possible. Of course, the biggest problem with these little guys is lack of air due to the extremely tiny bellows capacity. I know it's heresy to suggest, but it really should have a supplementary air tube like a melodica!

 

Now if I could just figure out a way to store this "mini-me" inside my contrabass EC that would be awesome.

 

Gary

Edited March 10, 2022 by gcoover

[gcoover]

...and here's a comparison with one of Jake's Wolverton Anglos.

 

Gary

Edited March 10, 2022 by gcoover