How Many Jeffries Duets?

[wes williams]

The link above gives the Jeffries history, and suggests a manufacturing period of 1905-20

Peter ....

Oh no it doesn't ( or at least it shouldn't ).

 

C.Jeffries and 23 Praed St implies roughly 1892 to 1908. The move to 23 Praed Street (from 102) was around 1892'ish when 102 was demolished. Charles Jeffries died in 1906, and Jeffries Bros. listings start a little later.

 

That was you at the ICA AGM, wasn't it? I thought I recognised the face from old ICA Newsletters, but didn't get the chance to say hello.

 

.. wes

[PeterT]

The link above gives the Jeffries history, and suggests a manufacturing period of 1905-20

Peter ....

Oh no it doesn't ( or at least it shouldn't ).

 

C.Jeffries and 23 Praed St implies roughly 1892 to 1908. The move to 23 Praed Street (from 102) was around 1892'ish when 102 was demolished. Charles Jeffries died in 1906, and Jeffries Bros. listings start a little later.

 

That was you at the ICA AGM, wasn't it? I thought I recognised the face from old ICA Newsletters, but didn't get the chance to say hello.

 

.. wes

Ooops! Yes, I did know that Charles died in 1906. I was quoting from an article on the link! (Now, where's that embarrassed smilie.......?)

 

Well, Wes, I wouldn't exactly say "at the ICA AGM", more in the bar below, playing tunes with Pippa and Sally. Where were you sitting/standing in the bar, or who were you talking to? That way, I might be able to recall your face.

 

Regards,

Peter.

[Leo]

If it helps; there are two currently for sale on EBay:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Duet-CONCERTINA-by-Jef...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-Antique-Jeffries-...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

I believe the second one is for sale by a c.net member

 

Hope this helps

 

Thanks

Leo

(Edited for corrected link)

Edited October 30, 2006 by Leo

[Dirge]

Come on then, someone put their money where their mouth is and have a go at how many there were and are. From the numbers that come up for sale you'd think they were considerably more common than Crane system duets, for starters; is this even slightly likely?

 

Incidentally Wolosp was kind enough to let me fiddle about with his 50 key and I was amazed to discover the lack of crossover area on the keyboards. Is this a Jeffries duet characteristic?

[bignick]

Th 50 key boxes have an overlap of a third, the 58 key boxes have an overlap of a seventh.

 

Nick

 

Come on then, someone put their money where their mouth is and have a go at how many there were and are. From the numbers that come up for sale you'd think they were considerably more common than Crane system duets, for starters; is this even slightly likely?

 

Incidentally Wolosp was kind enough to let me fiddle about with his 50 key and I was amazed to discover the lack of crossover area on the keyboards. Is this a Jeffries duet characteristic?

[PeterT]

Th 50 key boxes have an overlap of a third, the 58 key boxes have an overlap of a seventh.

 

Nick

 

Come on then, someone put their money where their mouth is and have a go at how many there were and are. From the numbers that come up for sale you'd think they were considerably more common than Crane system duets, for starters; is this even slightly likely?

 

Incidentally Wolosp was kind enough to let me fiddle about with his 50 key and I was amazed to discover the lack of crossover area on the keyboards. Is this a Jeffries duet characteristic?

Hi Nick,

 

Given the fact that you have put your 58 key up for sale, would I be right in thinking that, for your playing, the trade-off in having less weight in a 50 key instrument outweighs the extra overlap available on a 58 key?

 

Or did logic dictate that it was better for you to have two identical 50 key instruments, apart from the tuning?

 

Regards,

Peter.

 

PS - based upon the recent interest in Jeffries Duets, there must be 20+ around.

[Simon Rosser]

When I was playing and dancing with Chingford Morris in the seventies, one of our members, a certain Chris Beale, had two Jeffries system duets one in Bb and one in C. I think they were both about 56 or 58 Keys each. Certainly they were heavy enough to require a neck strap!

 

He is rumoured to be still with us and presumably still playing though I haven't heard of him for some time. A delightful bloke, he was then a particularly accomplished player and a wonderful exponent of Scott Joplin tunes.

 

I have no idea whether they were C.J. machines or J. Bros. though I suspect the former. So there's another two to add to the count! I shal watch this one with interest!!!

 

Simon Rosser

[Greg Jowaisas]

We haven't heard from our friend in Japan, Wakasaobama san. Although he recently sold a Jeffries anglo to finance his new house I believe he may have retained a Jeffries duet or two.

 

Wakasaobama san?

 

Regards and best wishes for your new house.

 

Greg

[Tom Spollen]

Hi Peter

 

Mine is a 63 button Jeffries Bros (23 Phaed St) box in B flat with no air button. I bought it about 20 years ago sight unseen at a London Sotherby's auction of Neil Wayne (I think) cast offs. (London Sotheby's sent it to Sotheby in NYC where I was then living.) About a dozen years ago I took it to the Button Box for restoration. They did a splendid job.

 

Tom Spollen

Dennis, Massachusetts, US

[wakasaobama]

We haven't heard from our friend in Japan, Wakasaobama san. Although he recently sold a Jeffries anglo to finance his new house I believe he may have retained a Jeffries duet or two.

 

Wakasaobama san?

 

Regards and best wishes for your new house.

 

Greg

 

Dear Mr. Greg Jowaisas

 

Yes, I have two 51 key Duets. One Duet has 2-f flat keys on each side, and another Duet has 2-f keys.

I like 2-f flat keys one. (Both Key in C)

Now I play LES FEUILLS MORTES, LIVE FOR LIFE, Feelings, My way, THe Shadow of your smile e.t.c.

by Duet useing chord techniqus.

I interested Jeffries Duet, when I bought GD Jeffries from Mr. gcoover (C.net I.D.).

He said "I wouldn't trade my 50-button Jeffries Duet for any instrument out there!" in Discussion forums.

So, I interested Jeffries Duet from that time.

 

 

I apologized to delay reporting.

 

p.s. the photo is view of my home.　I love sea and tina!

Edited November 27, 2006 by wakasaobama

[PeterT]

Hi Peter

 

Mine is a 63 button Jeffries Bros (23 Phaed St) box in B flat with no air button. I bought it about 20 years ago sight unseen at a London Sotherby's auction of Neil Wayne (I think) cast offs. (London Sotheby's sent it to Sotheby in NYC where I was then living.) About a dozen years ago I took it to the Button Box for restoration. They did a splendid job.

 

Tom Spollen

Dennis, Massachusetts, US

Hi Tom,

 

Welcome to the Forum, and thanks for your posting. What type of music do you play on this magnificent beast?

 

So, looks like at least 3 Jeffries Duet players in the States.

 

Regards,

Peter.

[PeterT]

I interested Jeffries Duet, when I bought GD Jeffries from Mr. gcoover (C.net I.D.).

He said "I wouldn't trade my 50-button Jeffries Duet for any instrument out there!" in Discussion forums.

So, I interested Jeffries Duet from that time.

Hi Wakasaobama.

 

Very interesting comment, which you have quoted. Even with my limited exposure to the Jeffries Duet, I can understand this comment, when choosing music which suits, and fits well on, this instrument.

 

Regards,

Peter.

[Greg Jowaisas]

Thank you for the response and picture Wakasaobama san.

 

Is this your new house? The setting is truly beautiful!

 

Broadway showtunes are wonderful on the Jeffries duet. "Oh! What a Beautiful Morning" from Oklahoma and "On the Street Where You Live" from My Fair Lady set very nicely.

 

Regards,

 

Greg

[Tom Spollen]

Hi Peter

 

Mine is a 63 button Jeffries Bros (23 Phaed St) box in B flat with no air button. I bought it about 20 years ago sight unseen at a London Sotherby's auction of Neil Wayne (I think) cast offs. (London Sotheby's sent it to Sotheby in NYC where I was then living.) About a dozen years ago I took it to the Button Box for restoration. They did a splendid job.

 

Tom Spollen

Dennis, Massachusetts, US

Hi Tom,

 

Welcome to the Forum, and thanks for your posting. What type of music do you play on this magnificent beast?

 

So, looks like at least 3 Jeffries Duet players in the States.

 

Regards,

Peter.

[stuart estell]

I interested Jeffries Duet, when I bought GD Jeffries from Mr. gcoover (C.net I.D.).

He said "I wouldn't trade my 50-button Jeffries Duet for any instrument out there!" in Discussion forums.

So, I interested Jeffries Duet from that time.

Very interesting comment, which you have quoted. Even with my limited exposure to the Jeffries Duet, I can understand this comment, when choosing music which suits, and fits well on, this instrument.

 

I can sympathise with this as well. I use my big(ish) Wheatstone Maccann considerably more than my Jeffries, but I do think there's something about the Jeffries Duet that makes it "special" and it isn't just the fact that it's a Jeffries-made instrument. It's a funny beast, but lots of personality - the concertina-player's equivalent of a temperamental vintage car, perhaps.

 

(Edit) Greg - yes, agreed. One that fits on it particularly well is Somewhere Over The Rainbow (or, as Douglas Rogers once remarked to me, "that funny song about the pie", before singing, with hand-actions, "Somewhere over the rainbow/weigh a pie")

Edited November 27, 2006 by stuart estell

[Tom Spollen]

Hi Peter

 

Mine is a 63 button Jeffries Bros (23 Phaed St) box in B flat with no air button. I bought it about 20 years ago sight unseen at a London Sotherby's auction of Neil Wayne (I think) cast offs. (London Sotheby's sent it to Sotheby in NYC where I was then living.) About a dozen years ago I took it to the Button Box for restoration. They did a splendid job.

 

Tom Spollen

Dennis, Massachusetts, US

Hi Tom,

 

Welcome to the Forum, and thanks for your posting. What type of music do you play on this magnificent beast?

 

So, looks like at least 3 Jeffries Duet players in the States.

 

Regards,

Peter.

[Tom Spollen]

Peter, et al

 

 

I'm just figuring out how this system (i.e., concertina.net) works. Sorry that I didn't respond yesterday.

 

You asked about the kind of music I play on this "magnificent beast". I'm embarassed to report that I don't play it much. I learned English system first and have since found its mathematical simplicty so much easier to grok than the idiosyncratic fingering of the Jeffries duet. But the latter beast's sound is quite extraordinary!

 

Tom

 

 

Hi Peter

 

Mine is a 63 button Jeffries Bros (23 Phaed St) box in B flat with no air button. I bought it about 20 years ago sight unseen at a London Sotherby's auction of Neil Wayne (I think) cast offs. (London Sotheby's sent it to Sotheby in NYC where I was then living.) About a dozen years ago I took it to the Button Box for restoration. They did a splendid job.

 

Tom Spollen

Dennis, Massachusetts, US

Hi Tom,

 

Welcome to the Forum, and thanks for your posting. What type of music do you play on this magnificent beast?

 

So, looks like at least 3 Jeffries Duet players in the States.

 

Regards,

Peter.