My Gremlin

[MandolinRefugee]

Hi, all.

 

I happened to notice that my Gremlin treble E.C. has a set of 8 fold bellows, but the Stagis have 6. I thought it was just a rebranded stagi. I wonder what other differences I might find...

 

Does anyone know more about these Gremlins? The info on the web is sparse; I've seen 2 pictures in total, and they didn't look much like mine, mine having natural sapelle (I gather by the grain pattern) rather than black ends.

[Daniel Hersh]

Hobgoblin has used the Gremlin name for non-Stagi concertinas too (such as the Gremlin Saxon line). Can you post some pics of your own instrument?

 

Hi, all.

 

I happened to notice that my Gremlin treble E.C. has a set of 8 fold bellows, but the Stagis have 6. I thought it was just a rebranded stagi. I wonder what other differences I might find...

 

Does anyone know more about these Gremlins? The info on the web is sparse; I've seen 2 pictures in total, and they didn't look much like mine, mine having natural sapelle (I gather by the grain pattern) rather than black ends.

[MandolinRefugee]

Sure, here are some pics:

 

 

 

 

I found a big surprise when I opened it up. I was expecting a reed block standing on the reed pan, like in my Rochelle. What I found was completely different than that or a traditionally constructed instrument (although, to be fair, my experience with these things is very limited )

 

 

I'm not sure how well you can see the side of the reed blocks, but there is a hinge there. The upper layer of reeds, I assume, can swing out of the way for easy access to all of the reeds! Is that normal?

 

 

Anyway, the hinged blocks are held in place with a clamp positioned in the center of the whole works. What a brilliant way to fit more reeds into a small space!

 

Is this the same as the guts of a Stagi?

[Takayuki YAGI]

These photos remind me of this article about Bastari.

How does the action look like?

 

--

Taka

[Daniel Hersh]

Is this the same as the guts of a Stagi?

 

Not the usual Stagi -- they typically have reed blocks along the same lines as on a Rochelle. Like Taka, I'd like to see some action pics too.

Edited October 8, 2008 by Daniel Hersh

[MandolinRefugee]

These photos remind me of this article about Bastari.

How does the action look like?

 

--

Taka

 

Yes, I remembered this article as soon as I had popped the end off, and I was wondering if I had found one of these little "hidden treasures". When I get home, I`ll take a couple of pictures of the action, too.

 

D

[Anglo-Irishman]

Anyway, the hinged blocks are held in place with a clamp positioned in the center of the whole works. What a brilliant way to fit more reeds into a small space!

 

I've seen photos of stacked reed banks like that in vintage Large German Concertinas, but with long-plate reeds (i.e. several reeds on one plate.)

My single-reed-per-button German Bandoneon, c. 1900, has the reed chambers flat on the back of the action board, instead of the usual "standing" Bandoneon reed banks. This would be like the first level of the "stacked" reed banks.

FWIW,

 

Cheers,

John

[MandolinRefugee]

These photos remind me of this article about Bastari.

How does the action look like?

 

--

Taka

 

Here are the action photos. Alas, it's a single axle, multiple button arrangement, and the rivets are pretty loose. Ah, when the end is on, they stay put...

 

 

BTW, the best method of putting the end back on is to turn the action so the buttons are pointing to the floor. Gravity makes them "stand" straight (actually hang), and the end slips on lickety split!

[MandolinRefugee]

I've seen photos of stacked reed banks like that in vintage Large German Concertinas, but with long-plate reeds (i.e. several reeds on one plate.)

 

Do you mean the reeds for more than 1 button are on the same plate in those Large German Concertinas? LGC's?

Edited October 8, 2008 by MandolinRefugee