Fs: One Dipper Restored Jeffries Anglo

[Ed Stander]

What more can I say? The pogrom continues. Up for grabs is my 38 note Jeffries Anglo concertina, properly restored to full playability by Colin Dipper in 2005. Work done at that time included tuning the instrument to A440, repadding, revalving, replacing springs, adjusting the action, making new handbar assembly and handstraps, treating the bellows, fitting new bushings, and hand polishing the endplates. Since then, it has been well played in, but is still in perfect condition, and is extremely fast on the draw (and on the pull, of course). It comes with the original Jeffries case in good condition (the leather is perfect, but the handle is gone...) and that's all. I'd like 10,500$ for the instrument, but will be happy to accept offers above or below that number.

 

The next kid is going to a state school.

 

If you have any questions, feel free to ask, and best of all to all! Ed.

[Azalin]

Ed you'll give me a heart attack if you keep on going like this. What's next, an old Wheatstone Linota???

[Ed Stander]

Azalin - I dare not say. I think she is reading the posts....E.

[Chris Timson]

I have a Dipper-restored Jeffries 38 button G/D. I know what you're giving up. Don't sell the box, sell the kid! Get your priorities straight, man!

 

Chris

[ben]

Quote: "Don't sell the box, sell the kid! Get your priorities straight, man!"

 

Chris,...you for got to add "Sell the wife too." Do you know how difficult it is to get a Dipper concertina never mind a restored Jeffries? Since my wife moved out...I keep my Wheaststone C/G anglo, B/F Tedrow and a Wifra C/G anglo in my bedroom. My concertinas do not nag me or interrogate me like a KGB officer. A person can always replace a wife but not a wonderful vintage concertina. There is always the mail-order bride solution.... Hang on to that concertina!

[David Levine]

"A person can always replace a wife but not a wonderful vintage concertina."

 

Sorry. Maybe I misread the humor here.

I've a wonderful wife.

She doesn't nag or interrogate me.

I can buy what I want and so can she.

 

There are many more vintage concertinas

than there are wonderful wives.

 

I have read this message and I approve.

Thank you.

His wife.

[ben]

To all the spouses reading their husbands' postings: Who can find a vrituous woman? for her price is far above rubies? Proverbs 31:10 (King Solomon...after marrying 700 wives and having 300 concubines).

 

In light of the escalating concertina prices I read that passage slightly different..."Who can find a vintage concertina? for her price is far above rubies?."

 

Despite the humour...I sympathize with concerina players who are "forced" to sell their concertinas. Unfortunately in life there are too many demands placed on our limited resources.

 

I hope that Ed will find another good vintage instrument after all the financial obligations and commitments have been met. Good luck, Ed.

Edited September 30, 2008 by Ben Otto

[Ed Stander]

Thank you, one and all. My wife thanks you as well.

 

As for the concertina - I have a question for those living on the UK side of the pond.

Musical instruments older than 100 years are considered antiques by the Customs department, and as such are exempt from import duties (HTS 9706.00.00). Is the same true in the UK and Europe?

 

I've had several inquiries from the UK, but all were wondering the same thing.... Best - Ed

[Azalin]

Ed, after analyzing the situation, I'd say that your concertina is too old, and has only six fold bellows. But I'm a good guy, I'll give you 1000$ for it, since I'm a good guy.

[Ed Stander]

Ed, after analyzing the situation, I'd say that your concertina is too old, and has only six fold bellows. But I'm a good guy, I'll give you 1000$ for it, since I'm a good guy.

 

Azalin:

What are you talking about? The bellows have six sides, that makes 36 folds. E.

[Ed Stander]

Ah well - the concertina is now listed on the Bay - a cameo performance, as if it doesn't sell I'll just have to keep it. ; )

Best to all - Ed

[Azalin]

Yeah, now I got the "Buy now" button printed in my brain. I think it will haunt my dreams and nightmares. Thanks Ed!

[RP3]

Well, now we may see a real personal impact of the current economic crisis. The fact that no one on this normally very acquisitive forum was sufficiently motivated to purchase this instrument may be an indication that we have reached a tipping point. I may very well be proven wrong, but I think that the market is beginning to realize that the prices recently being paid for Jeffries and Wheatstone concertinas have gotten out of hand. True, the difference in exchange rates have given British, Irish and other European customers an upper hand in eBay auctions and other sales of these instruments, but now even those markets are feeling the pinch as foreign banks have been failing too in recent days and economic activity wanes. Here in the US, banks are curtailing Equity Lines, cutting credit card limits, and denying new loan applications at an alarming rate. Car sales are plummeting at double-digit rates for the same reason and I expect that other consumer purchases are showing similar downturns. Home mortgage qualification guidelines have returned to standards I have not seen since I purchased my first home in 1974 (can you tell I'm a retired banker?). Can concertinas be next to feel the pain of downward prices and sales?

 

It will be interesting to see if this instrument brings the price its seller (possibly the seller's wife) thinks it should command. (Please understand that I'm not picking on Ed or this instrument but I feel there is are greater issues here to be considered and this instrument auction brings these issues to mind.) I, for one, believe the difference between the prices on these vintage instruments and the prices for quality modern instruments (Dipper, Suttner, Carroll, Kensington, and others) have reached an unreasonable spread. I have a fine Jeffries and yet find both my Carroll and Dipper concertinas offer greater playability plus equal responsiveness with different but just as appealing tone. I do not deny the enjoyment I derive from playing the Jeffries which derives from its wonderful tone. But I would find it impossible to justify the difference in cost in today's market. Admittedly, the seeming world focus on immediate gratification may result in an eBay buyer offering $9,500 or more; but the economics of such a purchase are now questionable, have been for some time, and seem unfathomable during the current world financial situation. And to spend this much money without the opportunity to first try the instrument out first seems real folly. And if I remember correctly, the experts have opined that 23 Praed Street Jeffries were made after the death of Jeffries himself.

 

So, what will it be? A "NO SALE" or another unbelievable auction result? Now we wait and see. Or the bigger surprise may be the price offered for that un-restored Jeffries also on offer at eBay

 

Ross Schlabach

[Greg Jowaisas]

I agree with Ross that current economics could well have a sobering effect on the high end concertina market.

 

But on the other hand I am reminded of what Malcolm Clapp once told me:

"Musicians never have any money, but they always seem to find the money when a good instrument becomes available."

 

We shall see.

 

Greg

[Stephen Chambers]

I, for one, believe the difference between the prices on these vintage instruments and the prices for quality modern instruments (Dipper, Suttner, Carroll, Kensington, and others) have reached an unreasonable spread. I have a fine Jeffries and yet find both my Carroll and Dipper concertinas offer greater playability plus equal responsiveness with different but just as appealing tone. I do not deny the enjoyment I derive from playing the Jeffries which derives from its wonderful tone.

The same could be said of Stradivarius violins, but they're still in great demand...

 

... if I remember correctly, the experts have opined that 23 Praed Street Jeffries were made after the death of Jeffries himself.

The experts have opined that the C. Jeffries firm moved to 23, Praed Street in the early 1890s, whereas Charles Jeffries senior died on 28th October, 1906.

 

But it's the un-restored one that's a 23, Praed Street instrument (like both William Kimber's and the two best Jeffries Anglos I've ever played) not Ed's - though his should still be very nice indeed, especially considering we know it was Colin Dipper who restored it.

[Ed Stander]

I, too, am interested to see how the auction runs. I really don't expect the instrument to sell, considering the present financial state of the universe (at least according to the pundits...). Still, perhaps someone will contact me with an offer, at which time I'll have a better idea where things stand. In any case - I'm enjoying playing the instrument while I wait. Even Ning says it has a nice tone - so perhaps I'll be able to keep both wife and concertina after all. The best of both worlds, as it were.

Cheers - Ed

[Azalin]

Yeah well I'm feeling the heat of the economic downturn from a different source: my darn risky investments in what I thought were cheap, cheap stocks plumetted 70%. They might go up again, but it will take months, if not years, so basically access to my investments are frozen at the moment. That, on top of my mortgage... leaves me no option to buy the concertina.

 

The other factor is that a beloved 34 buttons Dipper is coming soon, very soon, and at this point the Dipper is all I want, it's my absolute prize.

[Dave Weinstein]

I have lost track of the number of times I have been saved by playing a full custom instrument.