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7pm BBC2 ( UK TV )

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wirralaccordion

wirralaccordion

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Just a heads up for UK viewers that The Repair Shop includes the repair of a WW1 concertina.
 
Thanks for the warning, my TV guide shows that episode is showing on Monday 19th.
 
Glug said:
Thanks for the warning, my TV guide shows that episode is showing on Monday 19th.
Click to expand...

Yes, sorry I meant to include that information.
 
Thanks!  We can also watch this in Belgium. 
It's listed in my TV guide at 20pm Belgian time. 

Think I'll program my decoder to record this.
 
Well, it just shows, if you’re determined and patient enough, you’ll eventually find someone somewhere who can fix it before it’s too late.
Quite moving, really!
Thanks, Jerry!
 
JerryPH pid=66743 dateline=1566268015 said:
For those that cannot access it, I prepared a shortened version of the program that covered just the concertina repair:

Click HERE to see it.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jerry. I am sure we all appreciate your contribution. I certainly do.
 
I taped the program (not knowing Jerry would do it for us). They did not show all that much of the repair, but it was interesting to learn about the material used to seal the bellows. Very different from bellow tape used on accordions!
 
I found it interesting that the guy who did the repair was also a player himself.
I wonder which came first, the ability to play the instrument or the repair skills -  1 would think the ability to play.
 
I notice they speak of the men being Munitions Drivers and in the second photo they appear to be in Salvation Army uniform.
So, I'm guessing these were men who joined up by patriotism but were perhaps non-combatant by conviction.
I think it is a C Jeffries Anglo. At 38 keys it is bigger than those usually most sought after by Irish players but would still likely command around £4-5 at current prices.
I hope the owner was made aware of its value.
How touching that her response is entirely down to love of family and memories of childhood!
 
I have since found out that the repairer is none other than Roger Thomas of www.jollyrogeraccordions.co.uk who sometimes posts on this forum.
In fact Episode 1 of Series 1 of The Repair Shop includes the repair of a Soprani Settimo piano accordion and I have put a link here.

 
Hi folks, yes it was me. The father and son team with the concertina volunteered in 1914 as drivers, which at that time was an unusual skill, so they were recruited. We got a lot more of the story from the family than made the final edit. The father was a bit old and the son too young, but insisted it was either both of them or neither, so the recruitment seargeant agreed to 'split the difference' on the ages. One of them played the trumpet and they toured dressing stations etc playing music (hymns mostly, but some bawdy songs too). The concertina was a Jeffries I think in Bb/Eb. I rebuilt the action boxes, which they didn't show, and patched the bellows, using skived leather strips, which is the standard technique for concertina bellows. I repair all sorts of free reed instruments and became a repairer because I was trained as an engineer, but also have always played music, from an early age, can sight read etc. Given the context of the concertina, and wanting to get an emotional response (it's TV, and to be honest that’s what they are after), I suggested 'tipperary', played slow (and it’s easy to play), but the tv company turned a bit pale, because tipperary is apparently legendary in 'the business' for attracting high royalty charges because someone owns the rights. The lovely owner (Audrey) used to hear her father play Home Sweet Home, which in fact is an American Civil War tune, out of copyright and easy to play, so that’s how it came about. It was a cold day for the 'reveal' and unlike just about every other reveal, we did it all in one take, including me playing the tune! Gettting a fist bump from the cameraman was the best bit (they want you to 'deliver the gold' and not screw up).
 
jollyrogeraccordions said:
Hi folks, yes it was me. The father and son team with the concertina volunteered in 1914 as drivers, which at that time was an unusual skill, so they were recruited. We got a lot more of the story from the family than made the final edit. The father was a bit old and the son too young, but insisted it was either both of them or neither, so the recruitment seargeant agreed to 'split the difference' on the ages. One of them played the trumpet and they toured dressing stations etc playing music (hymns mostly, but some bawdy songs too). The concertina was a Jeffries I think in Bb/Eb. I rebuilt the action boxes, which they didn't show, and patched the bellows, using skived leather strips, which is the standard technique for concertina bellows. I repair all sorts of free reed instruments and became a repairer because I was trained as an engineer, but also have always played music, from an early age,  can sight read etc. Given the context of the concertina, and wanting to get an emotional response (it's TV, and to be honest that’s what they are after), I suggested 'tipperary', played slow (and it’s easy to play), but the tv company turned a bit pale, because tipperary is apparently legendary in 'the business' for attracting high royalty charges because someone owns the rights. The lovely owner (Audrey) used to hear her father play Home Sweet Home, which in fact is an American Civil War tune, out of copyright and easy to play, so that’s how it came about. It was a cold day for the 'reveal' and unlike just about every other reveal, we did it all in one take, including me playing the tune!  Gettting a fist bump from the cameraman was the best bit (they want you to 'deliver the gold' and not screw up).
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing this Roger and I hope you'll let us know if you're going to be on the programme again.
Phil
 
Roger,
Thanks for your post: very interesting! 
As it happens, the show was also broadcast here in Australia and I happened to see that particular episode. Well done and thanks again! :)
 
jollyrogeraccordions said:
Hi folks, yes it was me. ...
Click to expand...

Many thanks for sharing and for mentioning the "skived leather strips". I couldn't quite make out exactly what was said on the program there, mainly because I didn't know what should have been said (when you sort of half know what should be said you think you hear it correctly but when you have no idea then it is really difficult at times).
 
This is very nice (and thanks for posting the video, the BBC makes it hard to watch their stuff here in Canada for some reason. (I still haven't seen the Phil Cunningham Accordions around the world shows.)

I'm telling folks about it on our twitter and other social media so they can look it up.
 
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