50p No. 88 Winter 2008/2009 - Devon Folk

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My Grandfather had one of those A guide to those old squeezeboxes found in the attic and for people considering purchasing one for the rst time. I’ve heard this – or something similar, like an uncle – on a number of occasions from a member of the audience when I’ve been playing a squeezebox for dancing or in a pub session. It’s still not unusual to nd a family who have an old squeezebox languishing unplayed in their attic, unaware of its musical characteristics or potential value. Some of them nd their way into junk shops from house clearances and some appear on Ebay, where a quality instrument will usually be recognised despite an uncertain description . Most people would probably recognise a piano accordion from its keyboard layout on the right hand but if the squeezebox is all buttons then it may be described by anyone unfamiliar with the instruments as an accordion, melodeon or concertina regardless of its true identity. This article will, I hope, aid recognition. If the squeezebox is small with hexagonal or, less commonly, octagonal ends then you are looking at a concertina. These particular instruments have become particularly popular in recent years, and a good quality model even in need of some attention can command a four gure price at auction. But you need to know what you’re looking at, in order to assess its value if you are selling, and its suitability for your purpose if you’re in the market for buying one for the rst time, for there are three very different types of concertina – the Anglo, the English, and the Duet. The Anglo will usually have two or three rows of buttons on each side, and buttons will give a different note depending on whether you push or pull on the bellows with the button depressed. These instruments are set in two denite keys, C/G, or G/D being the most common, but other combinations (such as Bb, F) are not unusual. The two row models are denitely not fully chromatic, and while the three row models may have all the other notes not in the major scale of the two given keys, it is much more difcult to play in another key. To determine the keys of the instrument, on the right hand side (there’s a small 4 air button on its own near the thumb) push the rst button (nearest index nger) of the rst row (nearest one’s palm), and match it to a known note on a pitch pipe, piano. or other instrument. Repeat with the rst button of the 2nd (or middle row, if 3 rows). Older instruments may not be in concert pitch, especially if they have lain idle for several years, but one should be able to get a pretty good approximation. The scale, for the most part, is obtained by working along the row, pushing and pulling with each button in turn, much like blowing and sucking on a mouth organ. A basic Anglo can be purchased very reasonably for around £100, but don’t expect much in the way of quality. Generally the more garish the colour, the poorer the quality. Paradoxically, the best quality Anglos fetch the highest prices on Ebay - £4000 plus is not unheard of. Like the Anglo, the straps on a duet concertina rest on the back of the hand, allowing all four ngers to access the buttons. Duet concertinas, however, are fully chromatic, and play the same note on push and pull, with bass notes on the left side and treble notes played by the right hand. This allows chords or counter-melody to be played easily with the tune. To add to the confusion, there’s more than one kind of arrangement of the notes, but the most common are the McCann system and the Crane system. Both have the ‘black’ notes – the sharps and ats – on the two outside columns (the lines of buttons going from palm to ngertip), and the ‘white’ notes in four columns in the McCann, and three columns in the Crane (a far more logical system, in my opinion). Cranes tend to be more harder to come by on the second-hand market, and thus are likely to be more expensive; think four gures instead of three for a Crane, although the make and model naturally affects the cost. English concertinas have four columns of buttons, again with the sharps and ats on the outside. Usually there is no broad strap for the hand, however, but on each side a thumb strap and a small metal plate on which the little nger rests. The notes are the same on push and pull, and a scale is obtained by playing alternately right hand and left hand. Limited range instruments
can be obtained relatively cheaply, but the full range models will again cost from a few hundred to two or three thousand pounds or more. Names to look out for (usually found on an oval insert, on one end, or sometimes on the strap) in the second-hand market are Jefferies (very sought after!), Wheatstone (after the inventor or the instrument), and Lachenal (most commonly available), and Crabb. If buying unseen, as on Ebay, check the description carefully and the seller’s feedback (cocoa111 is very reliable). www.concertina.net is a very informative website on all aspects of the instrument, including buying and selling. Ideally, try out an instrument before you buy. The bellows should not leak ; hold the instrument up by one end, and they should expand only slowly under their own weight. Check that all the notes sound clearly, both on push and pull, with no wheezing, or sticking. A good quality instrument is worth restoring even if it does have some dodgy notes or leaky bellows. In Devon, Nigel Sture in the South Hams does a very good job (see display advert), while Colin Dipper in Wiltshire has an enviable reputation nationally (and internationally) as a concertina maker and repairer. There are other modern manufacturers of good quality instruments – of anglos in particular – and reputable restorers around the country. It’s worth getting the advice of a concertina player if you are thinking of acquiring one yourself for the rst time. t’s quite possible that one may come across a concertina that doesn’t seem to correspond to any that I have described above. There are certainly some other obsolete or unusual ngering systems around, and the odd hybrid between a duet and an anglo. A square ended anglo was recently advertised on Ebay. Good squeezing ! Colin Andrews Subsequent issues will consider melodeons and other squeezeboxes 5 AMYCROFTERS BAND Lively & Fun for Barn Dances, Folk Dances & Folk Dance Clubs CALLER AVAILABLE IF REQUIRED Contact Andrews Mycroft 01404 46451 Nigel Sture Concertinas Repairs and restoration Expert tuning, valving, re-padding Bellows repaired New bellows made to order Concertinas also bought and sold Nigel Sture Concertinas Hillside Cottage, Frogmore, Kingsbridge, Devon,TQ7 2NR Tel. 01548 531525
Page 1: 50p No. 88 Winter 2008/2009 Another
Page 7 and 8: Re calling Aillen Wills looks back
Page 9 and 10: Stanchester Quire, I became Chairma
Page 11 and 12: PARKINSON’S FUNDRAISER I was diag
Page 13 and 14: FOOTNOTES EXMOUTH CHILDREN DANCING
Page 15 and 16: Barking Mad The Serious, Silly and
Page 17 and 18: Devon Folk Committee* President Ter
Page 19 and 20: Folk dance contacts Gittisham Folk
Page 21 and 22: Folk music & song contacts Brendon
Page 23 and 24: folk at music & song TOPSHAM FOLK C
Page 25 and 26: Diary Dates (1) The details in this
Page 27 and 28: Diary Dates (3 Sun 18 SONG Old Plou
Page 29 and 30: Diary Dates (5) Mon 9 DANCE MADCAPS
Page 31 and 32: Useful contacts (6) Sunrise Border
Page 33 and 34: Bands Those in bold text have an ad
Page 35 and 36: Callers Note: some callers will wor
Page 37 and 38: RUMPUS Dance Band Traditional music
Page 39 and 40: Nicola has, for several years writt
Page 41 and 42: Dan and Caroline Hollingshurst, who
Page 43 and 44: Come and join us ..... TAVISTOCK FO
Page 45: Before the Ruin is a little more st
Page 48 and 49: Reviews LANDING PARTY Babelsh This
Page 50 and 51: Morris Matters BORDERLINE MORRIS RE

50p No. 88 Winter 2008/2009 - Devon Folk

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