wakker anglo

Made by hand, by Wim and Karen Wakker, the Wakker Anglo concertina is a marriage of traditional techniques, materials and designs, combined with the latest CNC technology, guaranteeing the highest standard of precision.
The entire instrument, including the reed tongues and frames and all fittings, is made at our workshop. Each instrument is a hand-crafted "one off" and only a limited number of these instruments are made each year.

W-A1	- 30 key Wheatstone or Jeffries layout. - Radial reedpan - 6 fold bellows - Hardwood ends - Tuning: C/G. also available: C#/G#, Bb-F (see optional) - Long scale reeds: steel tongue in individual brass frames - Domed metal keys/delrin® cores. - $4650.00
W-A1-drone	- 31 key Wheatstone or Jeffries layout. - Specifications same as W-A1. - Pitch of drone button optional. - $4710.00
W-A2	- 30 key Wheatstone or Jeffries layout. - Parallel reedpan - 6 fold bellows - Hardwood ends - Tuning: C/G. also available: C#/G#, Bb-F (see optionals) - Long scale reeds: steel tongue in individual brass frames - Domed metal keys/delrin® cores. - $4710.00
W-A2-drone	- 31 key Wheatstone or Jeffries layout. - Specifications same as W-A2. - Pitch of drone button optional. - $4785.00
W-A3	- 30 key Wheatstone or Jeffries layout. - Parallel reedpan - 7 fold bellows - Hardwood ends - Tuning: G/D. also available: F/C - Long scale reeds: steel tongue in individual brass frames. - Domed metal keys/delrin® cores. - $4930.00
W-A Eir	only available in Ireland

Octagonal models (8 sided)

W-A4	Octagonal (8 sided) - 39 key Wheatstone or Jeffries layout. - Parallel reedpan - 7 fold bellows - Hardwood ends - Tuning: C/G. also available: C#/G#, Bb-F (see optional) - Long scale reeds: steel tongue in individual brass frames - Domed metal keys/delrin® cores. - $5800.00
W-A5	Octagonal (8 sided) - 39 key Wheatstone or Jeffries layout. - Parallel reedpan - 7 fold bellows - Hardwood ends - Tuning: G/D and F/C - Long scale reeds: steel tongue in individual brass frames - Domed metal keys/delrin® cores. - $6160.00

Optional

- all leather bellows
   hexagonal models                            $300.00
   octagonal models                              $360.00

- extra bellows folds,
   hexagonal models each                      $ 50.00
   octagonal models each                      $ 65.00

- raised hard wood ends                     $145.00
- amboyna veneers                            $145.00
- nickel plated metal ends                   $200.00
- silver or gold plated metal ends          inquire
- layout changes up to 4 notes              free
- layout changes 5+ , each                  $ 15.00

- adjustable hand rests (Duet style) $145.00
(adjustable both in position and height)

- Keyboard rake: Wheatstone or Jeffries

- Button height* (pressed down position):
   "Irish"              2mm
   "Standard"        3mm
   "Victorian"        4mm
   * key travel is determined by pitch and reed scaling

Tuning

Models A1, A2, A4, A-Eir:

- C/G tuning                                     standard
- Bb/F tuning                                   $215.00
- C#/G# tuning                                $100.00

Models A3, A5:

- G/D tuning standard
- F/C tuning standard

Construction and Materials
We take great effort in the selection and preparation of the materials we use. Depending on the model, the woods we use include hard maple, sycamore, mahogany, spruce and ebony.
We follow the old makers in the tradition of veneering concertinas, and have a wide selection of unique and rare veneers available, including rare amboynas. Our metal ended instruments can either be nickel, silver or gold plated.
Our instruments are based on the proven designs of Wheatstone and Jeffries from a century ago. However, they are not copies. Using modern technology enabled us to improve on both equilibrium and reed response, making the instrument better balanced.

Finish
All our instruments are french polished. French polishing is considered to be the most exclusive of finishes. It is a combination of shellac, ethanol and skill. Unlike other finishes, it is invisible but at the same time enhances even the smallest details of the grain. It takes about 9 hours to french polish a concertina.

Reeds
The reeds are the most important part of the concertina. Our instruments have traditional concertina reeds, not accordion type reeds.
A reed consist of a single steel tongue mounted in individual brass or aluminum frames. We use 16 different reed/frame sizes in our anglo to obtain the best possible balance and reed response. Our reeds are "long scale" reeds, requiring less air flow and producing more swing-cycle amplitude.

We make our own reeds, using the latest computerized machines. This enables us to optimize the design and fit of our frames and tongues, allowing extreme close fits with a maximum deviation of 0.01mm/0.003 inch.

Reedpan
We offer a choice of two reedpan designs: Radial, as found in Wheatstone and Lachenal concertinas, and parallel, as used by Jeffries. The tonal differences are subtle. The radial design tends to sound "warmer" or "rounder" whereas the parallel design is a little more "direct" with a little "bite".

Bellows
We offer two different types of 6 folds (black) bellows on our anglo concertinas:
1) traditional, Wheatstone style, with leather gussets and bindings and black papers.
2) All leather.

We use the finest quality goat skin, tested for impurities and air tightness.

Action
The action is riveted. The levers and post are cut out of brass. The key travel on our anglo actions is 'fine tuned' to ca.60 grams of pressure.
The buttons are 'Wheatstone type': delrin® or wooden core, with a metal sleeve. The top of the keys can either be flat or domed, depending on preference.
Because of the delrin®/wooden core, our keys weigh only a fraction of the solid type keys. Lighter keys result in a faster and quieter action.

Customizing
Several aspects of the two models are subject to personal preference. Besides the choice of material and/or veneer, the following subjects can be personalized: