doing this for a friend who's looking for a very small concertina.... one octave english from the description he gave me. Anyone having any clue ?
Thanks
There definitely were a few small concertinas made by the major manufacturers, presumably as 'one-offs' for stage entertainers.
I've seen so few in all my years I assume that they were both rare and treasured by those who owned one.
Probably the best thing would be to get in touch with all the known dealers, also perhaps the auction houses that deal in musical instruments, like Bonhams, not to mention Sothebys, although I suggest this indicates the price you might have to pay.
Alternatively, talk to the current makers of quality instruments and sound them out. Similar prices will no doubt apply.
There you are ! Just as you were asking.
I notice it has an 8-fold bellows, presumably because it runs out of air quite fast. And it's a Wheatstone Eola, top of the range.
If you mate's got the money for what is, undoubtedly, a novelty instrument, tell him to go for it. There's some days to go on the bidding, of course.
Well, maybe it's not an Aeola, but metal-ended would indicate a top model anyway.
Did you observe it's so small it doesn't have any straps, you just had to hold it in your hand ?
I'm sure i saw a unicyclist play one at the end of an act on television many years ago, he started out on the normal size one playing an accordion, and progressed up through three more ever-higher unicycles, and ever smaller instruments, ending up on one about 10 feet high playing one of these mini-concertinas.
There's a discussion on the ebay one going on over at concertina net at http://www.concertina.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=10929
The ledgers seem to show it as an Anglo, but someone has spoken to the seller over the phone and got him to push some buttons, and it plays the same on push/pull, so maybe duet after all.
They don't usually have straps and aren't really made for tunes - more for playing chords one-handed by bouncing them up and down.
We had one on display at our concertina club last month, with bellows that can be split in two so you can play one in each hand (english variety rather than anglo).
looking for a midget concertina
looking for a midget concertina
doing this for a friend who's looking for a very small concertina.... one octave english from the description he gave me. Anyone having any clue ?
Thanks
# Posted on February 27th 2010 by Nikita Pfister
Re: looking for a midget concertina
If you come across a cheap one, like some of the very cheap 1-octave accordions, check it out first by playing it, otherwise give it a wide berth.
# Posted on February 27th 2010 by Trevor Jennings
Re: looking for a midget concertina
what we're thinking about wouldn't be a cheap one : the one he saw looking more like a wheatstone, even if it was tiny... very well made !
# Posted on February 27th 2010 by Nikita Pfister
Re: looking for a midget concertina
Anything to do with this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1_boL4YNSE
# Posted on February 27th 2010 by tnoumarap
Re: looking for a midget concertina
Does your friend have an iPhone or iPod Touch, there is always this:
http://www.tradlessons.com/Englitina.html
The free version has a one octave range.
Cheers,
Michael
# Posted on February 27th 2010 by Michael Eskin
Re: looking for a midget concertina
There definitely were a few small concertinas made by the major manufacturers, presumably as 'one-offs' for stage entertainers.
I've seen so few in all my years I assume that they were both rare and treasured by those who owned one.
Probably the best thing would be to get in touch with all the known dealers, also perhaps the auction houses that deal in musical instruments, like Bonhams, not to mention Sothebys, although I suggest this indicates the price you might have to pay.
Alternatively, talk to the current makers of quality instruments and sound them out. Similar prices will no doubt apply.
# Posted on February 27th 2010 by Guernsey Pete
Re: looking for a midget concertina
Here's a sample of some current makers.
Miniature new production anglo, key of D:
http://hmi.homewood.net/mini/
http://www.acnorman.co.uk/
Mini-english:
http://www.buttonbox.com/instruments-in-stock.html#english
# Posted on February 28th 2010 by ∅
Re: looking for a midget concertina
Aren't concertinas small enough already?
# Posted on February 28th 2010 by AlBrown
Re: looking for a midget concertina
This one has recently been offered on fleabay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wheatstone-miniature-Concertina_W0QQitemZ160409009306QQ
# Posted on March 1st 2010 by Theo Gibb
Re: looking for a midget concertina
There you are ! Just as you were asking.
I notice it has an 8-fold bellows, presumably because it runs out of air quite fast. And it's a Wheatstone Eola, top of the range.
If you mate's got the money for what is, undoubtedly, a novelty instrument, tell him to go for it. There's some days to go on the bidding, of course.
# Posted on March 1st 2010 by Guernsey Pete
Re: looking for a midget concertina
They don't like to be called midget concertinas. They prefer "little reeds."
# Posted on March 1st 2010 by Jimmy B
Re: looking for a midget concertina
ebay mini wheatstone....
ooh that's pretty (and the price will be too!)
Is that likely to be a duet or an anglo?
Chris
# Posted on March 1st 2010 by spindizzy
Re: looking for a midget concertina
Ah-ha - in the horniman ledgers, it's down as a duet.
# Posted on March 1st 2010 by spindizzy
Re: looking for a midget concertina
Well, maybe it's not an Aeola, but metal-ended would indicate a top model anyway.
Did you observe it's so small it doesn't have any straps, you just had to hold it in your hand ?
I'm sure i saw a unicyclist play one at the end of an act on television many years ago, he started out on the normal size one playing an accordion, and progressed up through three more ever-higher unicycles, and ever smaller instruments, ending up on one about 10 feet high playing one of these mini-concertinas.
# Posted on March 2nd 2010 by Guernsey Pete
Re: looking for a midget concertina
There's a discussion on the ebay one going on over at concertina net at
http://www.concertina.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=10929
The ledgers seem to show it as an Anglo, but someone has spoken to the seller over the phone and got him to push some buttons, and it plays the same on push/pull, so maybe duet after all.
# Posted on March 3rd 2010 by spindizzy
Re: looking for a midget concertina
They are still being made bespoke (at least in England) - contact your favorite maker and enquire on lead time.
# Posted on March 5th 2010 by geoffwright
Re: looking for a midget concertina
They don't usually have straps and aren't really made for tunes - more for playing chords one-handed by bouncing them up and down.
We had one on display at our concertina club last month, with bellows that can be split in two so you can play one in each hand (english variety rather than anglo).
# Posted on March 5th 2010 by geoffwright