Hurdy Gurdy Auction

Subject: Hurdy Gurdy Auction
From: maldenny
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 07:41 AM

Found out last week that Sotheby's next auction of Early Musical Instruments (25th November) has about 20 classic hurdy gurdies in the catalogue. The on-line catalogue lists them all and there are a few photos of the most expensive items. Too far for the likes of me to view them, fortunately.

PS Don't forget the Bagpipe & Hurdy Gurdy day at the Shroppie Fly in Audlem, Cheshire on 8th November.

Mal

Subject: RE: Hurdy Gurdy Auction
From: Watson
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 08:01 AM

The Catalogue

Subject: RE: Hurdy Gurdy Auction
From: trayton
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 08:39 AM

the star lot must be "Lot# 272: A LOOPHONIUM LIVERPOOL, CIRCA 1960" have a look!
also there are a few concertinas at the end, Jeffries and Wheatstone

Subject: RE: Hurdy Gurdy Auction
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 08:49 AM

I can't navigate the site cause of one of the side effects I have previously posted about won't let me properly access the site - Damn Non-Standard Code!

Robin

Subject: RE: Hurdy Gurdy Auction
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 09:19 AM

I finally managed to get a look at some of the piccies, but I can't do any searches or get the enlarged piccies.

Lot#312 looks similar to mine, but mine's a McCann - I can't tell for sure from the size of the image but the buttons do seem to be in level lines which would make it a standard English? - McCanns have staggered lines of buttons...

Robin

Subject: RE: Hurdy Gurdy Auction
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 09:43 AM

I think that they've got Lot 311 wrong - it looks like an Anglo to me.

Subject: RE: Hurdy Gurdy Auction
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 12:05 PM

It's apparent that they don't know an English from an Anglo-German. That Loophonium is a definite winner, though!

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Hurdy Gurdy Auction
From: EBarnacle
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 01:50 PM

The pictures didn't seem to correspond directly to the descriptions but they seemed gorgeous.

Subject: RE: Hurdy Gurdy Auction
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 31 Oct 03 - 11:08 AM

After looking more closely, I realise that they've shown the picture of lot 313 for lot 311 and vice versa.

Although they describe the looks of the instruments, there's nothing to say what their playing condition is. Of the english concertinas, lot 306 looks the best instrument to me - the Wheatstones are all what I'd call "Tuition Models". The Anglos look interesting though.

Subject: RE: Hurdy Gurdy Auction
From: maldenny
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 03:52 PM

Had a look at Sotheby's at the weekend - the squeeze boxes looked OK, but the gurdies were "restoration projects" at the best - worm holes, broken bits, bits missing etc. Not one playable! Was told that all but one of them sold, it will be interesting to see what they went for. (Don't say firewood!).

Subject: RE: Hurdy Gurdy Auction
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 07:24 PM

Think I might know the type of "restorer" too - one of them attacked (while I was not present - without my permission!) my Symphonie with a razor blade - to try and remove a "flat spot" on the wheel! Had to get a new wheel built! This "restorer" claimed that he was an "expert" and had "restored" many old instruments while he was in England...

Robin