John's Instruments 

John (Mr Squeezy) mostly plays accordion, concertina and whistle. Initially he played the clarinet and in his early folk career learnt to play the melodeon. He later moved onto the concertina and has more recently progressed to the accordion. 

John’s accordion was made by the Vignoni company in Italy and is a “ B system Continental Chromatic” . This type of accordion is played extensively in Russia, and to a lesser extent in parts of Europe. There is a “C system Continental Chromatic” which is much played in France and Scotland, ( the difference is not apparent until you try to play, the notes in the right hand progress in different directions ). There is considerable rivalry between exponents of the two systems as to which is the better. Players of the more common “Piano Accordion” of course, ignore them both completely.

In 1829 Charles Wheatstone based in Middlesex, UK, developed the first portable 'squeeze box' based on the principle of free reeds activated by a keyboard and bellows. Initially it was called the Syphonium but was renamed in 1844 as the Concertina. In may 1829 the first accordion was patented by Cyril Demian a maker of pianos in Vienna, Austria.

John’s main Concertina is a Jeffries Duet system with 58 buttons and was made somewhere around 1900 by the Jeffries Brothers, whose father had worked for Wheatstone. John’s other concertina is a 40 button Wheatstone Anglo-German Concertina and was made in 1912. An explanation of the different types of concertina would take up far too much time and space; so, if you are really interested, email us.