Current makes of concertina

[alex_holden]

6 hours ago, JimR said:

I visited Flying Duck Concertinas only to find that Paul, the maker, has died.

https://www.flyingduckconcertinas.co.uk/

 

Oh no, how sad. He was a lovely chap.

[Roger Hare]

19 hours ago, JimR said:

I visited Flying Duck Concertinas only to find that Paul, the maker, has died.

That's very sad news. Looking at the dates, I think mine must have been one of the last few instruments Paul completed.

[Daniel Hersh]

On 10/15/2023 at 3:24 PM, JimR said:

I visited Flying Duck Concertinas only to find that Paul, the maker, has died.

https://www.flyingduckconcertinas.co.uk/

 

Very sad news - thank you for letting us know. I have updated the list to reflect this.

[Daniel Hersh]

On 9/11/2023 at 10:57 PM, Eugenides said:

 

On a slightly related note, I'm slowly working my way through the intermediate list. Wolverton is discontinuing their standard model. Geuns says that they no longer make concertinas. I'll continue to update as I hear from other makers, if that won't be too annoying.

 

Thanks for helping out.  Are you sure about Geuns?  Their website doesn't show this: https://bandoneon-maker.com/concertinas/ .

 

Re the Wolverton standard model, their website says "only G/D models are available while my remaining reed stocks last."  So I've left them on the intermediate list for now but can remove if need be.

[Jake Middleton-Metcalfe]

On 10/18/2023 at 1:28 AM, Daniel Hersh said:

 

Thanks for helping out.  Are you sure about Geuns?  Their website doesn't show this: https://bandoneon-maker.com/concertinas/ .

 

Re the Wolverton standard model, their website says "only G/D models are available while my remaining reed stocks last."  So I've left them on the intermediate list for now but can remove if need be.

 

Ah yes - I decided that was best as I'm only one person and the designs of the concertina reeded instruments I make have become somewhat more diverse and as they are quite popular it makes sense for me to focus on that. Still some G/D accordion reed sets left though!

Edited October 19, 2023 by Jake Middleton-Metcalfe

[Daniel Hersh]

16 hours ago, Jake Middleton-Metcalfe said:

Ah yes - I decided that was best as I'm only one person and the designs of the concertina reeded instruments I make have become somewhat more diverse and as they are quite popular it makes sense for me to focus on that. Still some G/D accordion reed sets left though!

 

Thanks!  It's always nice to hear from a maker.  I'll leave you on the intermediate list until I hear that these G/D's won't be available anymore. 

[Jake Middleton-Metcalfe]

Thanks Daniel I will let you know

[Eugenides]

I'm very sad to hear about Paul, that's really terrible news! 

 

Regarding Geuns, please refer to this screenshot of an email exchange I had with them. 

[Daniel Hersh]

On 10/30/2023 at 1:06 PM, Eugenides said:

I'm very sad to hear about Paul, that's really terrible news! 

 

Regarding Geuns, please refer to this screenshot of an email exchange I had with them. 

Thanks!  I will check with Harry to see if this is a temporary pause or if he's permanently done with concertinas.  If he might start producing them again, I will leave him on the list (along with several other makers who aren't currently accepting orders).

 

[Daniel Hersh]

2 hours ago, Daniel Hersh said:

Thanks!  I will check with Harry to see if this is a temporary pause or if he's permanently done with concertinas.  If he might start producing them again, I will leave him on the list (along with several other makers who aren't currently accepting orders).

 

I heard back from Harry Geuns, who writes, "We have put the production of our concertina's on hold for some time already, and at the moment we cannot tell when or if we start production again.  Maybe in the future." 

 

I will leave Geuns on the list for now, along with the other "not now" makers.

[Daniel Hersh]

Updated to add Inkostini in the student/basic category.

[Snedder]

Seth Hamon's website appears to be offline.  🤔

[alex_holden]

21 hours ago, Snedder said:

Seth Hamon's website appears to be offline.  🤔

 

I've just checked with him and he says he's still making instruments but is in the middle of designing a new website.

[Daniel Hersh]

Updated to add Crook under Vintage/Traditional Construction.

[Daniel Hersh]

Edited to show that Kensington will not accept any new orders.

[Richard Mellish]

On another thread

Brian Hayden is selling some of his concertinas but explains that his concertina-reeded Hayden Duets will not be for sale until has departed this life. That does prompt the question of what demand there might be for them and who, if anyone, may be manufacturing new ones. Although I did not get on with that system when I tried it, it does still seem more rational and more versatile than the other Duet systems so it seems a pity that Cranes and Maccanns should be more readily available for prospective players.

[David Barnert]

16 hours ago, Richard Mellish said:

...concertina-reeded Hayden Duets ... That does prompt the question of ... who, if anyone, may be manufacturing new ones.

 

Wim Wakker, certainly (although due to the size of his waiting list he’s not taking new orders at present). Steve Dickinson at Wheatstone still has them on his web site, but I have no idea how many he’s making these days.

[alex_holden]

5 hours ago, David Barnert said:

Wim Wakker, certainly (although due to the size of his waiting list he’s not taking new orders at present). Steve Dickinson at Wheatstone still has them on his web site, but I have no idea how many he’s making these days.

 

I'm in a similar position: I make Haydens, but my waiting list is very long and I receive new order inquiries far more often than I can build them. (I'm a solo maker and don't want to take on employees.)

 

It also concerns me a little that nobody else seems to be making new high end concertina-reeded Maccanns and Cranes. It is currently easier to find them on the second hand market than concertina-reeded Haydens, but there is a finite number of really good ones out there, and very few options for those who would like to commission a custom build with a non-standard layout.