Herrington Brothers CONCERTINAS 30-Button Anglos

Classic traditional anglo style    Rich powerful tone                      Lightning fast action                 Fine durable construction           Strong tough bellows                 Very airtight design                              An instrument for serious players       Strong handsome case provided

History
In the winter of 1988, when we set about designing a new Anglo concertina, we were full of enthusiasm and had a number of well-considered theories. Not all of the theories proved to be correct. This led us into our own basic research on what actually enhances performance. Little has been written about free reed acoustics, but we studied everything we could find. We began to understand those things that are critical to concertina design. After four years of study, research and experimentation, we were ready to begin our design work.

The trip resulted in a six-month backlog of orders. It seems that there is a serious shortage of good playable concertinas. Many of the concertina teachers with whom we spoke have students in need of better instruments than what they are currently playing. Many seasoned players are faced with the same problem. Our concertina is well built, quick and affordable, and is exactly what many are looking for. In the coming years, more and more of them will be seen at pub sessions and performances in Ireland and the rest of the world. And in time, we hope our concertinas become the preferred instrument for players of all abilities, even among those who can afford to pay and play whatever they please.

Design and Construction
The external design of the Herrington concertina is similar in many ways to traditional English-made instruments. They are hexagonal measuring 6-1/4'' (158 mm) across. The bellows have seven or eight deep folds edged in leather. The reeds are mounted in a reed pan and are parallel to the end. The ends are cut from German silver in a traditional vine pattern. The fingering arrangement is based on the C. Wheatstone Anglo System (thirty-button chromatic). In actual design and execution, however, there are some important structural differences. The body, or frame, is constructed entirely of solid hardwoods. There are no veneers to crack or peel, and scratches are easier to repair. All corner joints are finger joined, also known as box joined. This produces a very strong joint and eliminates the necessity of inside corner bracing. The reed pan and mechanism are combined into a single unit rather than two pieces as is usually found. This simplifies construction and eliminates a major source of air leaks.

The concertina end assembly is in three pieces, stacking together like a sandwich. These consist of the end, the reed pan-mechanism, and the bellows frame. The screws that hold the assembly together are located at the corners rather than in the middle of the sides. This makes for a very positive airtight lock up and should eliminate any problem with pan warpage. Also, the way in which the reed pan is constructed, using hard maple and birch, produces a very stable structure and should be less likely to warp. Consequently, our concertina will probably be one of the more airtight instruments you will ever encounter. This is due in large part to its unique design and the way it screws together. The mechanism, which is also a unique design, is dealt with in a separate section.

About the Reeds The reeds in this concertina are made to our specifications in Italy. A number of makers have tried to produce a quality concertina using Italian reeds. We believe we may be the first to be truly successful. With the Herrington concertina, top quality reeds along with good acoustical design and careful construction
combine to produce a notable instrument. Replacement reeds are readily available and are not expensive. The reeds are held in the reed pan by a small screw and brass hold down clamp. Reeds are easily removed and replaced when necessary.

The Unusual
For those seeking unusual instruments, we also offer very fine 5-3/4" (146 mm) square Anglo concertinas. They are constructed using a very similar reed pan design and give almost identical performance as our traditional instruments. Being a bit easier to construct, they are priced a bit lower. They handle very nicely and won't roll off the table.

Mechanism
The mechanism of the Herrington concertina is similar in appearance and function to English-made instruments in that each button-lever is individually mounted.  In actual design, however, it differs in several ways.  Constructed of stainless steel and brass, it uses coil springs rather than torsion springs.  Also, the fulcrum post attachment to the lever and the method of stabilizing the button are unique.  We believe these design features offer some significant advantages over previous designs.

The drawing below shows how the mechanism is constructed and how it operates.

In the Herrington design, the button, which has a brass sleeve at it's center, slides up and down on a fixed stainless steel post.  The lever, or arm, is attached to the button by a coupling.  The lever passes through a hole drilled in the center of the fulcrum post.  The spring, located directly beneath the button, is a compression coil type.  There is a felt pad at the base of the button.  This limits downward motion and keeps the button from being noisy.

The valve pad is made from a disk of lightweight polyvinyl chloride sheet.  It is strong, very stable and is the best material we could find.   The gasket is soft-tanned kid skin.  The design is tough, reliable and very smooth.  The compression spring is operating well below it's stress limit and should easily last the life of the concertina.  The design of the lever-fulcrum post connection, with it's pass through feature, is also extremely strong and should also last a lifetime.  The buttons are machined from a space-age polymer called Delrin.   It is bone white, machines to a smooth finish, and takes a nice shine.  In our opinion, we believe this mechanism to be one of the best ever offered.  Although time consuming to construct, we believe the effort to be worthwhile in that it should give many years of trouble free service.

Cases Our cases are all constructed by hand using the best-imported plywoods. All seams are finger joined (also known as a box joint). We use the very best aliphatic resin glues and best quality hinges and hardware. These cases are extremely strong and give your concertina the sort of protection it deserves.The carrying strap is oil-tanned cowhide and is both strong and easy on the hand. Our cases are offered in two styles: square or hexagonal.
	Our hexagonal cases are not to be confused with hexagonal cases of other makers or eras. Our hexagonal cases have finger or box joined seams and are very durable. They will not come apart as other hexagonal cases are prone to do. The choice is largely one of personal preference.
We must admit that the square cases are a bit stronger.We also offer cases for concertinas other than our own. If you have need of a first class case, please call, e-mail or write for a quotation.

Prices
The price of our traditional 6-1/4" (158mm) hexagonal concertina is $1,500.00. This includes transportation to anywhere in the contiguous U.S. Shipment to other locations, including Europe, Alaska, and Hawaii may incur a small surcharge. Shipment is by insured US Parcel Post unless other arrangements are made in advance. Presently, we do not require a deposit at the time of order on standard instruments. Special orders may require a deposit, the size of which is determined by the nature of the order.

Our square concertinas are priced lower than our traditional, hexagonal models. Those with an interest in the square design should contact us by phone, e-mail or letter.

Warranty
Our concertinas are warranted against defects in materials or workmanship for a period of five (5) years from the date of purchase. Upon receipt of a returned concertina, we will repair or replace at our discretion. Reeds are warranted for a period of one year from date of purchase. Certain other problems might, at our discretion, be covered beyond the normal warranty period. Please don't hesitate to inquire if you should have a problem.

           Back to top            E-mail                    

Web page designed by Ken Fleming.