Flee as a Bird - New CD from Frank Edgley

I have posted pictures of the cover art for my newest CD. The CD contains music from Ireland, Scotland, Northumberland and Lancashire. All tunes are played on two of my Edgley concertinas. It is mostly a solo CD with guitar, and piano accompanyment, with mandolin and fiddle on four of the thirteen tracks. It has been professionally recorded by David Mosher at his "By the Lake Studio, and mastered at "Big Sky." I'm very pleased with their work and can recommend them to anyone. If you would like a copy of this CD, please e-mail me at fedgley@cogeco.ca, or send me a cheque or cash in the amount of $17 which will cover the CD, and postage for anywhere in North America.. All CDs will be shipped in a padded envelope.

New Heritage Model Concertina

This is a photo of the new Heritage Model with concertina reeds. Notice the lower profile of the body of the concertina as the reedpan is within the bellows frame (as are all concertina-reeded instruments.) Reeds are steel in brass frames and are dovetailed into the reedpan. This instrument is genuine ebony (no veneer) with bloodwood trim, but customers may choose their own
wood(s) . This first one has the Tree of Life design grills, but subsequent instruments will have a vine grill pattern from the early 20th century. If you are interested in one of these Heritage Models, please contact me at fedgley@cogeco.ca .

A New Product Line

After 30 years working with concertinas, repairing antique vintage concertinas for 20+ years, and making almost 400 instruments, I am announcing a new line of concertinas --- The Heritage Model. This concertina will have the same attention to detail, and quality of workmanship as my other concertinas. However, for those who want something more traditional, we are now offering English-style concertina reeds. These instruments have traditional brass reed shoes and steel tongued reeds slotted into the reedpans and will follow traditional methods of construction. I have recently completed the prototype instrument and am very happy with the results. To introduce this line of concertinas, I am offering them at a special price, for a limited time only. Delivery, at this time, should be less than six months. The prototype has the "Tree of Life" stainless grills usual on my concertinas, but subsequent "Heritage Models" will have a traditional vine pattern used in earlier top-of-the-line vintage concertinas. Watch this site for photos.

Guess What We're Making

For more information, contact me at fedgley@cogeco.ca

Bound for the Fleadh

Here are a couple of concertinas which have just been shipped to their new owners in New York, and New Jersey. They will be used in the competition to qualify for the All-Ireland Fleadh (competition) in Ireland. One is the Professional wooden-ended Tree of Life model, and the other is the Professional model made of a stiking piece of cocobolo. Cocobolo is an interesting wood as every piece is different in pattern and hue. Here they both are in their custom-made cases. We tried to select the lining which would be most attractive to each instrument. Coming up in the next few weeks, on order, are an ebony instrument with curly maple trim and ebony-capped handles, an Indian rosewood instrument and a birdseye concertina with Mexican bocote trim. I'm sure we will post these pictures as soon as they are ready. Please contact me at fedgley@cogeco.ca for current prices and delivery times.

Bound for BC

This recently completed concertina has just been shipped to its new owner in British Columbia. It is a professional model with angled reedpans, eucalyptus burl with ebony trim body and brown bellows. The lining is difficult to see clearly as it is black crushed velvet, but really sets off the wood, and ties into the ebony trim. This was a difficult instrument for me to part with, but maybe one day I will have time to make one for myself. If you would like me to make a similar instrument for you, please contact me at fedgley@cogeco.ca.

An Unsolicited Testemonial

I just received this e-mail from my most recent customer:

"Dear Frank,
I received my anglo concertina today, and WOW, WOW, WOW, what a beautiful instrument! Your craftsmanship is amazing. While I consider myself a novice, I must say the Edgley Concertina makes me a better player already. The crisp voice, with beautiful tonal quality, the ability to bark and chirp, or conversely, to whisper; the speed of response, and the range of emotion this instrument is able to deliver are outstanding. I could not be more satisfied. This testimony is given with sincere gratitude and praise for your ability to deliver an instrument of the highest quality that I am proud to own and will cherish for life. Thank you for the craftsman that you are. I'm glad my choice was an Edgley.
With gratitude and admiration, all the best to you and yours, and wish ing you continued success,
Fred XXXXXX"