Mick Hartley

Politics and Culture

Crabb Concertinas

May 10, 2010

Another odd enterprise on Liverpool Road:

I wonder if there's much passing trade. Or if they've been hit hard by the squeeze.

I'm very tempted to go in:

Hello, yes, um, do you make concertinas?

That's what it says, isn't it? Concertina maker. Least it did last time I looked.

Well, if you're going to adopt that tone, I'm afraid I'll be taking my custom elsewhere.

From Wikipedia:

George Jones is often credited as the first English maker of the chromatic Anglo concertina. British firms active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries include those founded by Charles Wheatstone, Charles Jeffries (who built primarily Anglo-style concertinas), Louis Lachenal (who built concertinas in both English and Anglo styles and was the most prolific manufacturer of the period), and John Crabb.

There you go; and Harry is keeping the Crabb tradition going.

Be sure not to miss Roger Digby on How I Acquired My Crabb.

Posted in Uncategorized

6 responses to “Crabb Concertinas”

Francis Sedgemore

May 11, 2010

It’s a thriving trade that needs no publicity beyond that afforded by word-of-mouth gossip and a few Interweb discussion groups. And the members of these small groups of reeds and bellows fanatics are prepared to pay £5k and more for a decent handmade concertina, whether it be of the Anglo, English or Duet variety.
The name Crabb will live forever in the squeezebox universe.

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DaninVan

May 11, 2010

“miss Roger Digby on How I Acquired My Crabb.”
Now THERE’s a date killer if I ever heard one…

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Rod Wagoner

July 4, 2010

Don’t know. I’ve been in contact with Geoff Crabb … last surviving member of the family that makes conertinas … and the alleged ‘attitude’ does not exist. I have a 1941 Crabb which is a superb concertina. Fanatical perhaps, but so are folks who pay many thousands of pounds for any item that interests them … be it a Triumph Bonneville, a Jane Austin first edition or a signed Benny Hill video.
All my dealings with Crabb have been exeptional.

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Tony Almond

September 30, 2010

To the person who wrote in on 10th May. Like er, um, do you sell concertinas ? I wish to inform you that the business at 158 Liverpool Road ceased on February 1989 owing to the sudden death of my life long friend Neville Crabb. The property was purchased by a private buyer who was unable to change the frontage of the shop as it is a listed building. The new owner must be quite frustrated that after nearly 22 years, people still call in for a concertina. With your attitude, who would want your business anyway…….

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Gwen

December 4, 2011

I am a descendent of the Crabb family, from my mother’s side. She did a dissertation about 25 years ago on family history, and it made some very interesting reading. I would love a Crabb concertina (finances allowing). I think I need to take a trip to that shop,though, to take a picture before it disappears (assuming it hasn’t already). As my mother has had dementia for several years, I have suddenly become interested in researching my family history to pass on to my kids.
My family were also ‘fancy cabinet makers’, and did fancy coach work, too, in Islington and Clerkenwell.
Interesting to find this blog!

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Deborah

November 14, 2012

Thank you for such a sensible comment. I accidentally came across this ..
. We have lived in and loved the building for the last 20 years and have also not pretended to do anything other than protect a listed building.(we had it listed) We also have received enquiries for concertinas ,repairs etc and have been happy to pass them on wherever possible! It’s also fascinating to hear the various stories of the Crabb concertina. We obviously keep the name above the shop in recognition , have no need or desire to change it in order to advertise our own name .
I’m pleased to say we haven’t had anyone practicing their best witty comments on us ..and hope not too!

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