8 Concertina Makers and Repairers
Description
This article is from the Concertina FAQ, by Chris Timson chris@harbour.demon.co.uk with numerous contributions by others.
8 Concertina Makers and Repairers
If sending your concertina through the post for repair or tuning
(e.g. from the US to one of the UK repairers) PLEASE make sure it
is properly packed first. Please contact the repairer in question
before dispatch - they may have moved!
This list is not exhaustive and I would welcome further information.
I have only expressed opinions where I am familiar with the
instruments.
Accordion Magic Ltd Much of what they do is accordion
88 Woodlands Park repair, but what I have seen of their
Wash Lane concertina work is good. Good photo
Allostock essays on their web site of concertina
Cheshire repair work they have done. Most
WA16 9LG significantly they do MIDI concertina
England conversions. I have one, and it's a
Phone 01565 723080 cracking piece of kit. WWW pages at:-
Email http://www.accordionmagic.com/
Accusound Make specialist microphones for
19 Bitteswell Road miking awkward instruments -
Lutterworth including concertinas. Probably
LE17 4EL have the edge on Microvox for
England quality, but Microvox are cheaper!
Phone 01455 552306
Mike Acott Does a wide range of repairs
33 Kelvin Road including fretwork, french polishing
Ipswich and new bellows. Does a lot of work for
Suffolk Chris Algar. Also recommended by
IP1 5EH Colin Cater.
England
Phone 01473 743080
The Button Box Repairs and their own very good
P.O. Box 372 accordion-reed based anglos and
42 Amherst Rd Englishes (also see sec 9). Also
Sunderland, MA 01375 organise the Northeast Squeeze-In
USA in Massachusetts every September.
Phone (413) 665 7793 WWW pages at:-
E-mail http://www.buttonbox.com
Carroll Concertinas A new (2003) American maker of anglo
912 Squire Oaks Dr. concertinas using true concertina reeds
Villa Hills of his own make rather than the
KY 41017 ubiquitous accordion reed. I have not
USA seen a Carroll concertina myself yet,
Phone (859)426-5746 but the photo essays on the web site
Email look very promising. Only repairs
E-mail concertinas he has made. WWW pages at:-
http://www.carrollconcertinas.com
Steve Chambers/ Jason O'Rourke says "As far as I know
Micheal O Raghallaigh they're the most widely used in
MacNeill Music Ireland...The only problem with them
140 Capel St is that they tend to be very busy,
Dublin and as a result can be slow with
Phone 01-8722159 repairs."
Malcolm Clapp An Australian repairer of impeccable
6 Melissa Place reputation recommended by (among others)
Woolgoolga Wayne Richmond of the Australian
New South Wales 2456 Concertina Band. Sometimes has quality
Australia used instruments for sale.
Phone +61 (0)2 6654 0145
Email
Concertina Connection A company dedicated to the reintroduction
5709 AM Helmond of the concertina into classical music.
The Netherlands Repair/restoration of vintage concertinas
Phone +31 492 513611 and makers of the new Geuns-Wakker
Email concertinas in cooperation with bandoneon
maker Harry Geuns (see below). Publishers
of new and original Victorian repertoire
for the concertina. Give lecture recitals,
workshops etc. New for 2005 is the intro-
duction of a true MIDI concertina (both
anglo and English). Has WWW page at:-
http://www.concertinaconnection.com/
Connor Concertinas Repairs and makers of new
30 Eastbury Avenue concertinas using traditional reeds.
Rochford I used to own a Connor G/D, and it
Essex SS4 1SF was a joy to play, light and responsive.
England
Phone 01702 546745
Bill Crossland Yorkshire-based concertina repairer
60, Broad Lane and renovator.
Upperthong
Holmfirth
HD9 3XE
England
Phone 01484 687195
Email
C & R Dipper Concertinas Repairers and makers of
West End House concertinas of all systems.
High Street Make outstanding anglos -
Heytesbury I have just got a baritone
Warminster BA12 0EA anglo made by them. It is a
England miraculous instrument. See
Phone 01985 840516 our home page for pictures.
Frank Edgley Something of a concertina Renaissance
Complete Concertina Repair Man, Frank has always had an excellent
2346 Meldrum reputation for repairs and retuning.
Windsor Now he makes very well-regarded anglos
Ontario N8W 4E4 using accordion reeds, has produced an
Canada anglo tutor and has a CD of nice Irish
Phone (519) 948-9149 music with his son. Has web page at:-
Email http://www.concertinas.ca
Dave Elliott Repairs and retunes concertinas. The
Oughtibridge very knowledgeable author of The
Sheffield Concertina Maintenance Manual.
S Yorkshire S35 0FH
England
0114 2863069
E-mail
Richard Evans Recommended by Bob McKay, who says
Lot 5 "anglo maker and general free reed
Sandham Rd repairer (and also all-round nice guy)"
Bell Former editor of the late and excellent
NSW Concertina Magazine of the 1980s, he
Australia makes the well-regarded Kookaburra
anglo.
Geuns Concertina The Dutch maker Harry Geuns (previously
Contact via:- known for his bandoneons) is now
Concertina Connection making 48-button English concertinas
Jan de Withof 15, using accordion reeds for a cost of
5709 AM Helmond Euro 2000.00. They are being marketed
The Netherlands by Concertina Connection (see
Phone +31 492 513611 above). I have not met one of these yet,
Email but there is a full WWW page at:-
http://www.concertinaconnection.com/geuns_concertina.htm
Theo Gibb I have never encountered Theo's
Greenfield House work myself, and he is mostly
St Cuthbert's Road known for his accordion repair
Marley Hill work. However, he is a knowledgeable
Newcastle upon Tyne member of the Concertina.net forum
NE16 5EB and there are some nice pictures
England on his web site at:-
Phone 0191 488 8832 http://www.theboxplace.co.uk/
Paul Groff Recommended by Greg Bullough, who says:
14 Cushing Street "He's a very good reed fixer and restorer
Cambridge, MA 02138 for both concertinas and accordions",
USA and John Gunnell, who says: "A person
Phone (617) 499-9928 of great ability and integrity".
WWW page at http://www.groffsmusic.com
Christy Hengel Maker of reputedly very high quality
403 N Minnesota St Chemnitzer concertinas. Has a long
New Ulm, MN 56073 waiting list.
USA
Phone (507) 354-6525
Harold Herrington Makes 30-button anglos. Based on
1004 Paintbrush St accordion reeds, but with a very
Mesquite, Texas 75149 fine and playable action. Hexagonal
Phone (972) 288-7007 and (unusually) square designs with
E-mail German silver ends. I have just
acquired a fine square G/D and I am
very happy with it. Nice web site with
great URL:- http://www.concertinas.com.
Holmwood Concertinas Makers of English 56-button tenor treble
(Hamish and Freda Bayne), concertinas to their own design.
Unit 3 Quarryfield Road One owner (Don Nichols) says "It
Hatston Industrial Estate is a visual work of art, as well
Kirkwall KW15 1GD as being wonderful to play".
Orkney Recently moved to Orkney, but still
UK active as makers. Only repair their
Phone 01856 879055 own concertinas.
Homewood Musical Instrument Co Does a lot of repair work, and
3027 Central Avenue Bob Tedrow's web site has some nice
Birmingham pictures of some of his practices -
Alabama indeed the web site goes from
USA strength to strength. Now makes his
Phone (205) 879-4868 own anglos! (initial reaction to these
E-mail has been very good). WWW page at:-
` http://hmi.homewood.net
House of Musical Traditions Repairs (also see section 9).
7040 Carroll Ave Have recently been joined by a
Takoma Park MD 20912 concertina repair specialist
USA called Clifton Hoyt.
Phone (301) 270-9090
E-mail
David Leese Will tune and do most repairs.
"Foty'r Mynach" Does a lot of work for Chris Algar.
Llanaber Road Has now opened an online shop for
Barmouth concertina spares at:-
Gwynedd http://www.concertina-spares.com/
Wales
LL42 1RF
UK
Phone 01341 280092
E-mail
A.C. Norman & Co. Maker and repairer. Has been making
"Old Stables" 30-button C/G and G/D anglos since
Nursery Lane 1980, using hand-tuned Italian reeds.
Nutley WWW page at:-
Uckfield http://www.acnorman.co.uk
Sussex TN22 3NR
Phone 01825 713551
E-mail
Jurgen Suttner Concertinas Maker of English and anglo
Albert-Nöll-Str. 78 concertinas. I recently had the
D-57078 Siegen chance to play a Suttner anglo (a
Germany Jeffries copy) and found it a very
Phone +49-271 8706939 nice instrument. WWW page at:-
http://www.suttnerconcertinas.com/
E-mail
Marcus Music Recently started making 30-button
Tredegar House anglos based on Antonelli reeds.
Newport Well worth searching out if you are
Gwent on a budget. Also deals in concertinas
Wales (see section 9). As of August 2004 now
Phone 01633 815612 also making Englishes! WWW pages at:
http://www.marcusmusic.co.uk
Microvox Make specialist microphones for
Westfield Music miking awkward instruments -
Westfield Villa including concertinas. We use
Belgrave Mount them ourselves. WWW pages at:-
Wakefield http://www.microvox.demon.co.uk
WF1 3SB
England
Phone 01924 361550
E-mail
Reads's Reeds Does retuning, repairs and
6 Holloway Road restoration. Will also help
Toronto people find an instrument.
Ontario
M9A 1E8
Canada
Phone 416-207-0258
E-mail
Stagi Brunner Musica make Stagi (formerly
Brunner Musica S.R.L. Bastari) concertinas, easily the
Zona Ind.le Squartabue most widely sold in the world.
I-62019 Recanati (MC) WWW pages at:-
Italy http://www.brunnermusica.com/
Phone 0039-071-7506077
E-mail
Nigel Sture Concertina repairer recommended
Hillside Cottage by Ron Marks of West Country
Frogmore Concertina Players.
Kingsbridge
Devon
TQ7 2NR
England
Phone 01548 531525
E-mail
West Country Cases Maker of instrument cases,
Barry Wallace but specialises in cases
18 Whitebrook Terrace for concertinas.
Holcombe Rogus
Wellington
Somerset TA21 0PY
England
Phone 01823 673021
C Wheatstone & Co Ltd Repairs and makers of concertinas of
(Steve Dickinson), all systems. Excellent instruments,
21 Bridge Street I would hate to have to choose
Stowmarket between Dickinson and Dipper for
Suffolk quality! WWW pages at:-
IP14 1BP http://www.wheatstone.co.uk/
England
Phone 01449 615523
E-mail
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