Subject: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Jack Blandiver Date: 01 Apr 09 - 04:21 AM On the news this morning I listened with interest to a feature on the last remaining Lancashire farm dedicated to the breeding of Concertina Weasels, a sub-species of Mustela nivalis selectively bread for their strong yet supple pelts which are used in the construction of superior concertina bellows. Seemingly, if you want to know if your concertina is made from weasel leather, you must look inside, where, on the very finest models, the fur is still on. Generally it's only the English Concertina that used weasel leather, though a number of quality Anglos use it too. It doesn't come cheap, but as one concertina maker pointed out, it is as much about preserving the ancient family tradition of weasel farming as it is about the quality of the musical instrument. Sadly, the feature was prompted by the attention drawn by animal rights protesters who have set up camp on the wayside by the farm entrance (near Glasson Dock) several of whom had been arrested after the farm had been broken into during the night and much of the breeding stock let loose into the wild giving rise to fears of feral concertina weasels. |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Micca Date: 01 Apr 09 - 04:28 AM Of Course the weasel is weasily distinguished from the stoat, whixch is stoatily different |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Folkiedave Date: 01 Apr 09 - 04:35 AM I missed this. Is it on "Listen Again"? Which station? |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: pavane Date: 01 Apr 09 - 05:01 AM Probably only on the island of San Serife |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: GUEST,lox Date: 01 Apr 09 - 05:04 AM Reminds me of the spaghetti weavil that Richard Dimbleby reported on all those years ago ... I wonder if there's any connection. I think we should be told. |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: GUEST Date: 01 Apr 09 - 05:08 AM As a concertina restorer I am very upset that the press have chosen to expose this last remaining supplier of genuine weasel pelt. It is astonishingly expensive, but then again so are some concertinas and for some instruments only the very best will do. I fear that now the 'Weasel is out of the bag' so to speak, I shall have to revert to supplies of the slightly lower quality Ferret Leather. The ferret is another Mustelid and the best grades come from female polecat ferrets. This leather has been used as a substitute since the 1860s, indeed its use was so common as to lead the the concertina being nicknamed the "Leather Ferret" This animal is far easier to breed and handle and the pelt is significantly larger. The pelt was traditionally cured in a mixtute of bran, pureed cat brain and urine. (This aslo gives concertinas their distinctive odour) Animal protesters want tying up and throwing into a pit full of starving rats!! Dave |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: The Borchester Echo Date: 01 Apr 09 - 05:11 AM Yes, the Grauniad had an entire supplement about the concertina construction industry in Sans Serif. It is located amid fields of waving spaghetti. French makers have experimented with fish skins for bellows though only, I believe, in the month of April. Some concertina players are renowned for their weasel words. |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Will Fly Date: 01 Apr 09 - 05:12 AM Stoats and ferrets are weasily confused. |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: GUEST,john Date: 01 Apr 09 - 05:12 AM Having ascertained that the inside of the bellows of my concertina are non-hairy. How do I put my concertina back together? |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: MartinRyan Date: 01 Apr 09 - 05:29 AM If it's not hairy on the inside - it's not worth reassembling! Regards |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: SteveMansfield Date: 01 Apr 09 - 05:32 AM My concertina was made by Weaselstone Having ascertained that the inside of the bellows of my concertina are non-hairy. How do I put my concertina back together? If you've lost the originals you'll have to go down the meerkat and buy some more screws. |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: MartinRyan Date: 01 Apr 09 - 05:41 AM Think I should change the spelling of my name for the day that's in it. Regards Marten |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Valmai Goodyear Date: 01 Apr 09 - 06:10 AM Ferrets can make a substitute for the weasels, but not every restorer believes in them. Clap your hands if you believe in ferrets. Valmai (English treble and baritone) |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Bernard Date: 01 Apr 09 - 06:12 AM I have a water otter in my kitchen... |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Bernard Date: 01 Apr 09 - 06:14 AM ...and I had Chicken Tarka for my tea last night! |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Micca Date: 01 Apr 09 - 06:17 AM A paper in the recent edition of "Must-have Mustelines (incorporating Ferret Fanciers Monthly)" seems to be suggesting that experiments are taking place in the dark recesses of New Hampshire (a well-known haven for box players) on using specially bred Fishers as a substitute, after finding (by Experiment) that Beaver pelts were too watertight and didnt breathe sufficiently well. Also there is the marketing angle, after all, given the distinctive odour Who would buy a Beaver Concertina? The advantages in Fisher pelts being their Larger size and the superior quality. Maybe some enterprising Brit could start a trade with North America in the importing of animal pelts? |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: GUEST,lox Date: 01 Apr 09 - 06:29 AM I made one out of mongoose fur once, I had it for years before I was persuaded to sell it for a vast amount of cash a travelling cobra charmer ... ... sadly before I got to spend the cash I was mugged and later found myself swaying from side to side in someones laundry basket ... |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Nigel Parsons Date: 01 Apr 09 - 06:41 AM That's a relief, I thought it said "Concertina weevils". I was worried about a new form of woodworm attacking our instruments! Nigel (VAT was introduced in UK on 1st April 1973, a suspicious occasion) |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Bernard Date: 01 Apr 09 - 07:07 AM Hollowed-out armadillos would make excellent concertinas, methinks... |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Valmai Goodyear Date: 01 Apr 09 - 07:13 AM Correct me if I'm wrong, Bernard, but isn't it said that Chicken Tarka is like Chicken Tikka, but otter? Valmai |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler Date: 01 Apr 09 - 07:28 AM I have heard that the gathering at the Royal insist that ermine is the best, which leads me to suspect that "Aunt Clara" is a secret concertina player. Anyone use mink? |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: The Sandman Date: 01 Apr 09 - 07:33 AM AprilFool. |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: gnu Date: 01 Apr 09 - 07:35 AM Can you still hear the weasels, Clara? |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Ross Campbell Date: 01 Apr 09 - 07:45 AM The first sign of madness is beieving that the inside of your concertina is hairy. The second sign is opening it up to check. For Guest, John, an encouraging word - there is only one right way to put a concertina back together, and that's to avoid the thirty-five wrong ways. Actually, that figure is only for when you've taken one end off a six-sided concertina to examine the hairiness or otherwise of the bellows. For each additional disassembly stage, the figure should be multiplied by six (at least). Ross |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Micca Date: 01 Apr 09 - 08:15 AM B-belt, EVERYONE knows mink is mainly used for lining Codpieces!!! |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Mr Happy Date: 01 Apr 09 - 08:20 AM If you require miking up of your squeezebox, try Swansea Electronic, in order that your instrument may be heard playing it's canonicals sweeter Scenical stoneware is popular on the current Newcastle scenario since the I.E.S. town clearances & the re-siting of the ancient lowercases. The severe winter weather prompted the snowiest clearance and local firm Lawrence Canoeists provided specialist help in the sewer cancelations which had been prone to conceal wateriness /i<> |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: pavane Date: 01 Apr 09 - 08:57 AM To quote from the Ballad of Brian Boru "You've had your way long enough, It's the hairy side outside tonight" |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: GUEST, topsie Date: 01 Apr 09 - 08:59 AM "The pelt was traditionally cured in a mixtute of bran, pureed cat brain and urine. (This aslo gives concertinas their distinctive odour)" That explains the anguished sounds my cat makes when I try to play my concertina. |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: MartinRyan Date: 01 Apr 09 - 09:54 AM No, no - she's just trying to sing along appropriately... Regards |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: GUEST,lox Date: 01 Apr 09 - 10:03 AM Actually her concertina is made from her cat ... |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Mr Happy Date: 01 Apr 09 - 10:12 AM No wonder it bellows!! |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Nigel Parsons Date: 01 Apr 09 - 10:21 AM Actually her concertina is made from her cat ... ...and is the skin of her pussy flexible enough? |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: CarolC Date: 01 Apr 09 - 10:39 AM I just now told JtS about this, and he said, "the finest Newfoundland concertina and accordion bellows are made from white coat (baby) harp seals". |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: GUEST,lox Date: 01 Apr 09 - 11:31 AM .... now which topic shall I go off on ....... .... I just can't make up my mind ..... .... clubbing baby harp seals or the elasticity of topsies pussy .... dither dither |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: MartinRyan Date: 01 Apr 09 - 11:34 AM Would that be "folk-clubbing harp seals" or do you favour more traditional methods? Regards |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Lox Date: 01 Apr 09 - 11:40 AM I suppose while baby Harp Seals are useful to make concertinas then adult harp seals are better for making ... erm ... pianos? |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Bernard Date: 01 Apr 09 - 11:42 AM My seals are lipped... |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: DMcG Date: 01 Apr 09 - 11:44 AM I thought the bellows of the protype English concertina were made from lab. coats? |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Nigel Parsons Date: 01 Apr 09 - 11:48 AM I thought the bellows of the protype English concertina were made from lab. coats? Cruelty to labradors! |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: MartinRyan Date: 01 Apr 09 - 11:50 AM yeah - not even left in peace in death... Regards |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Harmonium Hero Date: 01 Apr 09 - 11:50 AM No, that's a misprint; it's Loab Cats. I'll get me lab coat... JK. |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Rowan Date: 01 Apr 09 - 05:27 PM Macropods make better bellows leather than mustelids, so my Jeffries says. The dance tunes certainly get a lot of bounce. Cheers, Rowan |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: The Vulgar Boatman Date: 01 Apr 09 - 05:44 PM My missus prefers it hairy side outside for playing outdoors... |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Bernard Date: 01 Apr 09 - 06:35 PM Hmmm... the lab coats would explain why 'tinas have buttons... |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Micca Date: 02 Apr 09 - 04:30 AM If That is so Bernard, where are the pens, screwdrivers, Spatulae, bits of paper, labels and assorted other paraphenalia that usually occupy the pockets (where are the pockets too?) of my Lab coat? |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: GUEST, topsie Date: 02 Apr 09 - 05:22 AM This has the makings of a plot for a detective novel - the vital bit of evidence hidden inside the (pocket) bellows of a concertina. |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Valmai Goodyear Date: 02 Apr 09 - 06:38 AM As any fule kno,concertinas do not have pockets because they are not marsupials. Strongly suspect that Mustelidian is a hitherto undiscovered musical mode. Valmai |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Micca Date: 02 Apr 09 - 06:38 AM What a range of suspects you would have Topsie!! so many people with murder in their hearts for somone playing the concertina!! |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Harmonium Hero Date: 02 Apr 09 - 07:06 AM Colonel Mustard, in the library, with a banjo.... JK |
Subject: RE: Folklore: Concertina Weasels From: Nigel Parsons Date: 02 Apr 09 - 07:25 AM Miss Ccarlet, In the Bedroom, with a flute Oh, sorry, I must have been thinking of a quote from 'American Pie'! |
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