Ooh! reply time - Away I have been, Mudcat also broken was. Talk like yoda I do. In the morning, too early it is.

EBarnacle -

The lachenal is a standard 48 key english, rosewood ends, 5 fold bellows, bone buttons - approximate date of manufacture is 1875 (although its hard to tell with lachenals - could be 15 years either side).

It's a lovely concertina - even if it is a "tutor model" - it's quite quick considering, and I've been playing it professionally for a couple of years now - the only reason for sale is fundraising for this rolls royce of a tina that's come up, and basically I can only play one at a time, so the lachenal needs to go to a new home.

I saw a mahoganny ended 48 key with 4 fold bellows and metal buttons in Hobgoblin the other day for about £795 - I think mine is worth a look if your considering taking up the instrument.

Foolestroupe -

It's a Settimio Soprani "Grand" - the bass side has a coupler (that needs a little attention to make it reliable again - should be an easy job, it's not that much of a problem though to be honest, hence I never fixed it). It brings in an extra set of bass reeds and its very meaty indeed. 4 combinations available on the right hand - Off the top of my head single (concert pitch) reed, single and low octave (deeply sexy), single and musette (a little wide for my tastes but not too extreme) or "master" (all three reed sets - great for scottish stuff). It's quite heavy though, although I have played worse. Not a problem if your sitting down - maybe it just needs a back strap. HG wise, best to PM me.

Ned -

Fiddles - nothing particularly interesting to a dealer - there's an old unmarked trade fiddle which I suspect will sound ok when it's strung up, but I need to do the post on it - it's not particularly pretty, but looking at the arching I reckon it should be good and loud. - also my old "Dutch" instrument "Gaspar Bourbon tot Brussels 1691" yeah right... which is actually a lovely fiddle, but needs a lot of work if it's to be put back into trade condition - I set it up so that it worked when I had no money for fingerboards etc (which it NEEDS - present one is a rather peculiar shape - previous owner was obviously a concert soloist from the wear pattern at the high end of the board). Anyway, I'll see you soon enough no doubt!

Anyway - hope that's some help to you all. My soul is also available, just come to a crossroads near you at midnight etc...

Cheers.
Jon