Yes, that's quite correct. From 1st July you must carry a portable one
if you are driving in France. It's NOT a joke. The fine for not having
one is 11Euro!
You can buy them at the channel ports. The good news is that they are
only a couple of pounds (limit in France is 50mg per 100ml of blood (30
lower than the UK).
You also need more than one (if you use it, you won't be legal unless
you still have an unused one in the car).
You are not required to actually use it, of course, just to have one in
the car!

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1073607_france-decrees-mandatory-breathalyzer\
s-in-all-cars-by-july-1

Colin Hill



On 26/06/2012 17:32, JULIE BARKER wrote:
> This might at first seem a long way off topic but in view of the fact
> that some of us hope to go to France for the gurdy festival season it
> might just be relevent.
> I have heard that from 1st July it is to become law for every car to
> carry a breathalizer. Does anyone out there know about this? I remember
> a few years ago they introduced the hi-viz jacket rule at what seemed
> like short notice.
>
> Philip G Martin aka Drohne
> www.drohne.co.uk
>
>
>
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com>
> Version: 2012.0.2180 / Virus Database: 2437/5093 - Release Date: 06/25/12
>




-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.2180 / Virus Database: 2437/5094 - Release Date: 06/26/12

Just found the perfect festival going gurdy transport in Aldi. Fits my 1876
Pajot luteback while it is in its gig bag . Like a cross between a wheelie
suitcase and a rucksack. Plenty of pockets for stuff and it packs very flat.
Aldi has limited stock so don't hang about.

Hi everyone just to let you know the camp site is relatively dry and is very
empty- apart from the 9 of us ....8-)
So hurry up and get here !
Looking forward to the meet and greet tomorrow
All the best Nick Whiteley (Chalky to those in the know)

You may remember I asked about repairing a tuning peg some while ago
well, it's finally snapped and beyond repair) Fortunately it's only the
top that's gone (the shaped bit where the tourne a gauche fits on) and
the shaft is intact (although it now means using a pair of pliers to
tune the drone string).
Anyway, the peg head on my gurdy is flat (like a cloverleaf - see my
profile pic http://www.facebook.com/colin.hill.313) and about 1cm thick.
I'm seriously thinking of replacing them all with machine pegs (physical
problems are making it difficult to turn the pegs these days) but where
would I get them in the UK?

Thanks,

Colin Hill


-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5135 - Release Date: 07/16/12

So, How was it this year?

Ah, I had never thought about banjo pegs!
I do have a few old banjos (no longer functioning) around the house with
both machine-type pegs and ordinary friction pegs and (somewhere) a few
spare ones. I'll have a fiddle around to see if they would fit and that
should tell me if replacing all the pegs is viable.
Thank you.
I'm feeling a little silly tuning with a mole wrench.

Colin Hill


On 18/07/2012 10:59, Neil Brook wrote:
> Hi Colin
>
> Just found the bug on the link.
> You may find the pegheds a bit long. An alternative is to use planetary
> banjo pegs - I have some gold plated with black buttons.
> Cheers
> Neil.
> On 18 Jul 2012, at 10:26, Stephen Evans wrote:
>
>>
>> Hi Colin,
>>
>> Look no further than Neil Brook. He sells "pegheads". I've fitted
>> these to my Bernard Ellis guitarback and also have them on my NB
>> luteback. Easy to fit, look like traditional pegs and maintenance free
>> and no slipping. Usually on the "Accessories" bit of his website
>> www.hurdy-gurdy.org.uk <http://www.hurdy-gurdy.org.uk/> but the page
>> seems to be down currently.
>> Have a look here http://www.pegheds.com/
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Steve Evans
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> To: HurdyGurdyForum@...
>> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum@...>
>> From: cwhill@...
>> <mailto:cwhill@...>
>> Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2012 18:07:39 +0100
>> Subject: [HurdyGurdyForum] tuning pegs
>>
>> You may remember I asked about repairing a tuning peg some while ago
>> well, it's finally snapped and beyond repair) Fortunately it's only the
>> top that's gone (the shaped bit where the tourne a gauche fits on) and
>> the shaft is intact (although it now means using a pair of pliers to
>> tune the drone string).
>> Anyway, the peg head on my gurdy is flat (like a cloverleaf - see my
>> profile pic http://www.facebook.com/colin.hill.313) and about 1cm thick.
>> I'm seriously thinking of replacing them all with machine pegs (physical
>> problems are making it difficult to turn the pegs these days) but where
>> would I get them in the UK?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Colin Hill
>>
>> -----
>> No virus found in this message.
>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com>
>> Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5135 - Release Date: 07/16/12
>>
>>
>>
>
> Best regards
>
> Neil Brook
>
> nwbrook@... <mailto:nwbrook@...>
>
>
>
>
>
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com>
> Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5138 - Release Date: 07/17/12
>




-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5138 - Release Date: 07/17/12

How can you have a 'no longer functioning' banjo? What is needed to render it
into this condition, and is it different to a 'totally broken' banjo? Having
seen some of the resurrection jobs Neil has achieved from almost nothing I'd
have thought that saving a banjo could be easy - mind you some banjos may not be
worth saving - even if brand new (I think I owned one once).
Speaking of which I was wondering - in the long history of hurdy gurdies -
whether anyone has ever made one with a 'skin' soundboard like a banjo? It would
of course need a structure just below the skin to take some of the tension on
the bridge and support the wheel ( rather like the African harp or Kora) but I
think the sound produced could be quite interesting and probably loud enough to
hear in outer space!
Maybe an experiment in one of your hurdy gourdies, Neil, if you ever run out of
projects to keep you busy?
S
M

-----Original Message-----
From: HurdyGurdyForum@...
[mailto:HurdyGurdyForum@...] On Behalf Of cwhill
Sent: Wednesday, 18 July 2012 8:52 PM
To: HurdyGurdyForum@...
Subject: Re: [HurdyGurdyForum] tuning pegs

Ah, I had never thought about banjo pegs!
I do have a few old banjos (no longer functioning) around the house with both
machine-type pegs and ordinary friction pegs and (somewhere) a few spare ones.
I'll have a fiddle around to see if they would fit and that should tell me if
replacing all the pegs is viable.
Thank you.
I'm feeling a little silly tuning with a mole wrench.

Colin Hill


Deep Ocean
Do sea monsters really exist?
Exhibition 16 June 14 October 2012
www.deepoceans.com.au



The Australian Museum.


The views in this email are those of the user and do not necessarily reflect the
views of the Australian Museum. The information contained in this email message
and any accompanying files is or may be confidential and is for the intended
recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination,
reliance, forwarding, printing or copying of this email or any attached files is
unauthorised. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete it and notify
the sender. The Australian Museum does not guarantee the accuracy of any
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communications are not secure, the Australian Museum does not accept legal
responsibility for the contents of this message or attached files.

Please consider the environment before printing this email.

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared
by MailMarshal

Basically, surplus ones which I no longer play as I have bought a better
one :-) It was very cheap (as are most starter instruments that are mass
produced). I just don't get rid of things like that.
The one I am thinking of is my first banjo (an old -1966 - John Grey -
working order but no longer played). I have several (dozen) surplus
instruments (don't ask, I'm keeping them) and, on occasions, have
cannibalised them to repair others.
In this context, it means no longer played and maybe the odd bit missing
and not worth buying the bits!
I have been gathering these instruments for over 50 years so have quite
a selection.
The only ones needing actual repair work are an English concertina
(water damage due to leaking fish tank), Hawk 12 string guitar (warped
neck due to poor design), 12 bar autoharp needing a few strings (I have
a second one in full playing order), a Windsor banjo circa 1920 (needs
vellum head replacing) and the John Grey banjo (5th string peg hole
needs building up as it's worn too large to hold the peg in) and a bowed
psaltery that needs a few new strings (for keys I don't play in so no
rush). I don't count my Irish pipes as they were crap to start with and
not really fit for purpose (the ones made in Pakistan) and they really
need retuning and sealing against air leaks (I re-reeded them but they
really need an air compressor to play - just badly made).
Well, better than collecting stamps (although my wife would disagree).
I'll get around to the repairs one day....................

Colin Hill

On 19/07/2012 01:19, Martyn Robinson wrote:
> How can you have a 'no longer functioning' banjo? What is needed to
> render it into this condition, and is it different to a 'totally broken'
> banjo? Having seen some of the resurrection jobs Neil has achieved from
> almost nothing I'd have thought that saving a banjo could be easy - mind
> you some banjos may not be worth saving - even if brand new (I think I
> owned one once).
> Speaking of which I was wondering - in the long history of hurdy gurdies
> - whether anyone has ever made one with a 'skin' soundboard like a
> banjo? It would of course need a structure just below the skin to take
> some of the tension on the bridge and support the wheel ( rather like
> the African harp or Kora) but I think the sound produced could be quite
> interesting and probably loud enough to hear in outer space!
> Maybe an experiment in one of your hurdy gourdies, Neil, if you ever run
> out of projects to keep you busy?
> S
> M
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HurdyGurdyForum@...
> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>
> [mailto:HurdyGurdyForum@...
> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>] On Behalf Of cwhill
> Sent: Wednesday, 18 July 2012 8:52 PM
> To: HurdyGurdyForum@...
> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>
> Subject: Re: [HurdyGurdyForum] tuning pegs
>
> Ah, I had never thought about banjo pegs!
> I do have a few old banjos (no longer functioning) around the house with
> both machine-type pegs and ordinary friction pegs and (somewhere) a few
> spare ones. I'll have a fiddle around to see if they would fit and that
> should tell me if replacing all the pegs is viable.
> Thank you.
> I'm feeling a little silly tuning with a mole wrench.
>
> Colin Hill
>
> Deep Ocean
> Do sea monsters really exist?
> Exhibition 16 June 14 October 2012
> www.deepoceans.com.au
>
> The Australian Museum.
>
> The views in this email are those of the user and do not necessarily
> reflect the views of the Australian Museum. The information contained in
> this email message and any accompanying files is or may be confidential
> and is for the intended recipient only. If you are not the intended
> recipient, any use, dissemination, reliance, forwarding, printing or
> copying of this email or any attached files is unauthorised. If you are
> not the intended recipient, please delete it and notify the sender. The
> Australian Museum does not guarantee the accuracy of any information
> contained in this e-mail or attached files. As Internet communications
> are not secure, the Australian Museum does not accept legal
> responsibility for the contents of this message or attached files.
>
> Please consider the environment before printing this email.
>
> This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared
> by MailMarshal
>
>
>
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com>
> Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5140 - Release Date: 07/18/12
>



-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5140 - Release Date: 07/18/12

Wow - and I thought I had a variety of instruments! Sounds like a great
collection. Any youtube clips of you playing them?
S
M

-----Original Message-----
From: HurdyGurdyForum@...
[mailto:HurdyGurdyForum@...] On Behalf Of cwhill
Sent: Thursday, 19 July 2012 9:53 PM
To: HurdyGurdyForum@...
Subject: Re: [HurdyGurdyForum] tuning pegs

Basically, surplus ones which I no longer play as I have bought a better one :-)
It was very cheap (as are most starter instruments that are mass produced). I
just don't get rid of things like that.
The one I am thinking of is my first banjo (an old -1966 - John Grey - working
order but no longer played). I have several (dozen) surplus instruments (don't
ask, I'm keeping them) and, on occasions, have cannibalised them to repair
others.
In this context, it means no longer played and maybe the odd bit missing and not
worth buying the bits!
I have been gathering these instruments for over 50 years so have quite a
selection.
The only ones needing actual repair work are an English concertina (water damage
due to leaking fish tank), Hawk 12 string guitar (warped neck due to poor
design), 12 bar autoharp needing a few strings (I have a second one in full
playing order), a Windsor banjo circa 1920 (needs vellum head replacing) and the
John Grey banjo (5th string peg hole needs building up as it's worn too large to
hold the peg in) and a bowed psaltery that needs a few new strings (for keys I
don't play in so no rush). I don't count my Irish pipes as they were crap to
start with and not really fit for purpose (the ones made in Pakistan) and they
really need retuning and sealing against air leaks (I re-reeded them but they
really need an air compressor to play - just badly made).
Well, better than collecting stamps (although my wife would disagree).
I'll get around to the repairs one day....................

Colin Hill

On 19/07/2012 01:19, Martyn Robinson wrote:
> How can you have a 'no longer functioning' banjo? What is needed to
> render it into this condition, and is it different to a 'totally broken'
> banjo? Having seen some of the resurrection jobs Neil has achieved
> from almost nothing I'd have thought that saving a banjo could be easy
> - mind you some banjos may not be worth saving - even if brand new (I
> think I owned one once).
> Speaking of which I was wondering - in the long history of hurdy
> gurdies
> - whether anyone has ever made one with a 'skin' soundboard like a
> banjo? It would of course need a structure just below the skin to take
> some of the tension on the bridge and support the wheel ( rather like
> the African harp or Kora) but I think the sound produced could be
> quite interesting and probably loud enough to hear in outer space!
> Maybe an experiment in one of your hurdy gourdies, Neil, if you ever
> run out of projects to keep you busy?
> S
> M
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HurdyGurdyForum@...
> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>
> [mailto:HurdyGurdyForum@...
> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>] On Behalf Of cwhill
> Sent: Wednesday, 18 July 2012 8:52 PM
> To: HurdyGurdyForum@...
> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>
> Subject: Re: [HurdyGurdyForum] tuning pegs
>
> Ah, I had never thought about banjo pegs!
> I do have a few old banjos (no longer functioning) around the house
> with both machine-type pegs and ordinary friction pegs and (somewhere)
> a few spare ones. I'll have a fiddle around to see if they would fit
> and that should tell me if replacing all the pegs is viable.
> Thank you.
> I'm feeling a little silly tuning with a mole wrench.
>
> Colin Hill
>
> Deep Ocean
> Do sea monsters really exist?
> Exhibition 16 June 14 October 2012
> www.deepoceans.com.au
>
> The Australian Museum.
>
> The views in this email are those of the user and do not necessarily
> reflect the views of the Australian Museum. The information contained
> in this email message and any accompanying files is or may be
> confidential and is for the intended recipient only. If you are not
> the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, reliance, forwarding,
> printing or copying of this email or any attached files is
> unauthorised. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete it
> and notify the sender. The Australian Museum does not guarantee the
> accuracy of any information contained in this e-mail or attached
> files. As Internet communications are not secure, the Australian
> Museum does not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this message
or attached files.
>
> Please consider the environment before printing this email.
>
> This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and
> cleared by MailMarshal
>
>
>
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com>
> Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5140 - Release Date:
> 07/18/12
>



-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5140 - Release Date: 07/18/12



------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

During my "active" time (running and playing in folk clubs) was rather a
long time ago and pre-camcorder days!
Old age is catching up fast (I think it's overtaken and lapped me now)
so fingers not as nimble as they were so quality of playing has gone
right down :(
Some of the instruments are just too difficult for me to play now - my
Wheatstone English concertina (ebony ends) was never this heavy before!
As I said, collected and learned over 50 years (I was always the one for
adding the more "unusual" instruments to the group) and never parted
with any but occasionally "retired" them to a spare room.
I was fortunate that, at the time I got most of them, they could be
found in junk shops for very little money - anglo concertinas for £10,
for instance!!!!!!
I should point out I was never that proficient on any of them but good
enough to play in a group (where fudged notes and the like get lost)
provided the tunes were of a reasonable speed.
My crowning glory was a local radio broadcast where, with others from
nearby churches I played concertina, bodhran, mandolin and bouzouki in a
"Celtic themed" service. Good fun.
I didn't mention mountain dulcimer and small pipes, did I. Plus assorted
whistles (I can also get a tune or two out of an ocarina and a
clarinet), mouth organs and bandurria (I gave that up, the strings hurt
my fingers too much), pipe and tabor old uncle Tom Cobley and all.
I also play (right hand only - left hand for chords) keyboards and did
fill in at church on a whopping great organ when we lost our official
player. I did try the dideridoo but that doesn't go well with false
teeth!  I'm sure I've missed a lot of instruments out - oh yes, piano
accordion and melodeon - but my joy now after a lifetime's wait is my HG
which I got in my 50's. Never too late and well worth the waiting!
I suppose I would have been better concentrating on one or two and
playing them really well but I just love learning new things. One day
I'll get a hammer dulcimer one day (one of the few "folk" instruments I
have never even touched) but I may be running out of time................

Colin Hill



On 20/07/2012 01:06, Martyn Robinson wrote:
> Wow - and I thought I had a variety of instruments! Sounds like a great
> collection. Any youtube clips of you playing them?
> S
> M
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HurdyGurdyForum@...
> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>
> [mailto:HurdyGurdyForum@...
> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>] On Behalf Of cwhill
> Sent: Thursday, 19 July 2012 9:53 PM
> To: HurdyGurdyForum@...
> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>
> Subject: Re: [HurdyGurdyForum] tuning pegs
>
> Basically, surplus ones which I no longer play as I have bought a better
> one :-) It was very cheap (as are most starter instruments that are mass
> produced). I just don't get rid of things like that.
> The one I am thinking of is my first banjo (an old -1966 - John Grey -
> working order but no longer played). I have several (dozen) surplus
> instruments (don't ask, I'm keeping them) and, on occasions, have
> cannibalised them to repair others.
> In this context, it means no longer played and maybe the odd bit missing
> and not worth buying the bits!
> I have been gathering these instruments for over 50 years so have quite
> a selection.
> The only ones needing actual repair work are an English concertina
> (water damage due to leaking fish tank), Hawk 12 string guitar (warped
> neck due to poor design), 12 bar autoharp needing a few strings (I have
> a second one in full playing order), a Windsor banjo circa 1920 (needs
> vellum head replacing) and the John Grey banjo (5th string peg hole
> needs building up as it's worn too large to hold the peg in) and a bowed
> psaltery that needs a few new strings (for keys I don't play in so no
> rush). I don't count my Irish pipes as they were crap to start with and
> not really fit for purpose (the ones made in Pakistan) and they really
> need retuning and sealing against air leaks (I re-reeded them but they
> really need an air compressor to play - just badly made).
> Well, better than collecting stamps (although my wife would disagree).
> I'll get around to the repairs one day....................
>
> Colin Hill
>
> On 19/07/2012 01:19, Martyn Robinson wrote:
>  > How can you have a 'no longer functioning' banjo? What is needed to
>  > render it into this condition, and is it different to a 'totally broken'
>  > banjo? Having seen some of the resurrection jobs Neil has achieved
>  > from almost nothing I'd have thought that saving a banjo could be easy
>  > - mind you some banjos may not be worth saving - even if brand new (I
>  > think I owned one once).
>  > Speaking of which I was wondering - in the long history of hurdy
>  > gurdies
>  > - whether anyone has ever made one with a 'skin' soundboard like a
>  > banjo? It would of course need a structure just below the skin to take
>  > some of the tension on the bridge and support the wheel ( rather like
>  > the African harp or Kora) but I think the sound produced could be
>  > quite interesting and probably loud enough to hear in outer space!
>  > Maybe an experiment in one of your hurdy gourdies, Neil, if you ever
>  > run out of projects to keep you busy?
>  > S
>  > M
>  >
>  > -----Original Message-----
>  > From: HurdyGurdyForum@...
> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>
>  > <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>
>  > [mailto:HurdyGurdyForum@...
> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>
>  > <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>] On Behalf Of cwhill
>  > Sent: Wednesday, 18 July 2012 8:52 PM
>  > To: HurdyGurdyForum@...
> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>
>  > <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>
>  > Subject: Re: [HurdyGurdyForum] tuning pegs
>  >
>  > Ah, I had never thought about banjo pegs!
>  > I do have a few old banjos (no longer functioning) around the house
>  > with both machine-type pegs and ordinary friction pegs and (somewhere)
>  > a few spare ones. I'll have a fiddle around to see if they would fit
>  > and that should tell me if replacing all the pegs is viable.
>  > Thank you.
>  > I'm feeling a little silly tuning with a mole wrench.
>  >
>  > Colin Hill
>  >
>  > Deep Ocean
>  > Do sea monsters really exist?
>  > Exhibition 16 June 14 October 2012
>  > www.deepoceans.com.au
>  >
>  > The Australian Museum.
>  >
>  > The views in this email are those of the user and do not necessarily
>  > reflect the views of the Australian Museum. The information contained
>  > in this email message and any accompanying files is or may be
>  > confidential and is for the intended recipient only. If you are not
>  > the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, reliance, forwarding,
>  > printing or copying of this email or any attached files is
>  > unauthorised. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete it
>  > and notify the sender. The Australian Museum does not guarantee the
>  > accuracy of any information contained in this e-mail or attached
>  > files. As Internet communications are not secure, the Australian
>  > Museum does not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this
> message or attached files.
>  >
>  > Please consider the environment before printing this email.
>  >
>  > This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and
>  > cleared by MailMarshal
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > No virus found in this message.
>  > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com>
>  > Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5140 - Release Date:
>  > 07/18/12
>  >
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5140 - Release Date: 07/18/12
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com>
> Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5141 - Release Date: 07/19/12
>



-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5142 - Release Date: 07/19/12

July, 2012

Sent from my iPad
Judith@...

Snap - sort of - I got my hurdy Gurdy in my 50's too!
What a great set of instruments you got to play over the years. Congrats.
S
M

-----Original Message-----
From: HurdyGurdyForum@...
[mailto:HurdyGurdyForum@...] On Behalf Of cwhill
Sent: Friday, 20 July 2012 9:03 PM
To: HurdyGurdyForum@...
Subject: Re: [HurdyGurdyForum] tuning pegs

During my "active" time (running and playing in folk clubs) was rather a long
time ago and pre-camcorder days!
Old age is catching up fast (I think it's overtaken and lapped me now) so
fingers not as nimble as they were so quality of playing has gone right down :(
Some of the instruments are just too difficult for me to play now - my
Wheatstone English concertina (ebony ends) was never this heavy before!
As I said, collected and learned over 50 years (I was always the one for adding
the more "unusual" instruments to the group) and never parted with any but
occasionally "retired" them to a spare room.
I was fortunate that, at the time I got most of them, they could be found in
junk shops for very little money - anglo concertinas for £10, for instance!!!!!!
I should point out I was never that proficient on any of them but good enough to
play in a group (where fudged notes and the like get lost) provided the tunes
were of a reasonable speed.
My crowning glory was a local radio broadcast where, with others from nearby
churches I played concertina, bodhran, mandolin and bouzouki in a "Celtic
themed" service. Good fun.
I didn't mention mountain dulcimer and small pipes, did I. Plus assorted
whistles (I can also get a tune or two out of an ocarina and a clarinet), mouth
organs and bandurria (I gave that up, the strings hurt my fingers too much),
pipe and tabor old uncle Tom Cobley and all.
I also play (right hand only - left hand for chords) keyboards and did fill in
at church on a whopping great organ when we lost our official player. I did try
the dideridoo but that doesn't go well with false teeth!  I'm sure I've missed a
lot of instruments out - oh yes, piano accordion and melodeon - but my joy now
after a lifetime's wait is my HG which I got in my 50's. Never too late and well
worth the waiting!
I suppose I would have been better concentrating on one or two and playing them
really well but I just love learning new things. One day I'll get a hammer
dulcimer one day (one of the few "folk" instruments I have never even touched)
but I may be running out of time................

Colin Hill



On 20/07/2012 01:06, Martyn Robinson wrote:
> Wow - and I thought I had a variety of instruments! Sounds like a
> great collection. Any youtube clips of you playing them?
> S
> M
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HurdyGurdyForum@...
> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>
> [mailto:HurdyGurdyForum@...
> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>] On Behalf Of cwhill
> Sent: Thursday, 19 July 2012 9:53 PM
> To: HurdyGurdyForum@...
> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>
> Subject: Re: [HurdyGurdyForum] tuning pegs
>
> Basically, surplus ones which I no longer play as I have bought a
> better one :-) It was very cheap (as are most starter instruments that
> are mass produced). I just don't get rid of things like that.
> The one I am thinking of is my first banjo (an old -1966 - John Grey -
> working order but no longer played). I have several (dozen) surplus
> instruments (don't ask, I'm keeping them) and, on occasions, have
> cannibalised them to repair others.
> In this context, it means no longer played and maybe the odd bit
> missing and not worth buying the bits!
> I have been gathering these instruments for over 50 years so have
> quite a selection.
> The only ones needing actual repair work are an English concertina
> (water damage due to leaking fish tank), Hawk 12 string guitar (warped
> neck due to poor design), 12 bar autoharp needing a few strings (I
> have a second one in full playing order), a Windsor banjo circa 1920
> (needs vellum head replacing) and the John Grey banjo (5th string peg
> hole needs building up as it's worn too large to hold the peg in) and
> a bowed psaltery that needs a few new strings (for keys I don't play
> in so no rush). I don't count my Irish pipes as they were crap to
> start with and not really fit for purpose (the ones made in Pakistan)
> and they really need retuning and sealing against air leaks (I
> re-reeded them but they really need an air compressor to play - just badly
made).
> Well, better than collecting stamps (although my wife would disagree).
> I'll get around to the repairs one day....................
>
> Colin Hill
>
> On 19/07/2012 01:19, Martyn Robinson wrote:
>  > How can you have a 'no longer functioning' banjo? What is needed to
> > render it into this condition, and is it different to a 'totally broken'
>  > banjo? Having seen some of the resurrection jobs Neil has achieved
> > from almost nothing I'd have thought that saving a banjo could be
> easy  > - mind you some banjos may not be worth saving - even if brand
> new (I  > think I owned one once).
>  > Speaking of which I was wondering - in the long history of hurdy  >
> gurdies  > - whether anyone has ever made one with a 'skin' soundboard
> like a  > banjo? It would of course need a structure just below the
> skin to take  > some of the tension on the bridge and support the
> wheel ( rather like  > the African harp or Kora) but I think the sound
> produced could be  > quite interesting and probably loud enough to
> hear in outer space!
>  > Maybe an experiment in one of your hurdy gourdies, Neil, if you
> ever  > run out of projects to keep you busy?
>  > S
>  > M
>  >
>  > -----Original Message-----
>  > From: HurdyGurdyForum@...
> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>
>  > <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>
>  > [mailto:HurdyGurdyForum@...
> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>
>  > <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>] On Behalf Of cwhill
> > Sent: Wednesday, 18 July 2012 8:52 PM  > To:
> HurdyGurdyForum@...
> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>
>  > <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>
>  > Subject: Re: [HurdyGurdyForum] tuning pegs  >  > Ah, I had never
> thought about banjo pegs!
>  > I do have a few old banjos (no longer functioning) around the house
> > with both machine-type pegs and ordinary friction pegs and
> (somewhere)  > a few spare ones. I'll have a fiddle around to see if
> they would fit  > and that should tell me if replacing all the pegs is viable.
>  > Thank you.
>  > I'm feeling a little silly tuning with a mole wrench.
>  >
>  > Colin Hill
>  >
>  > Deep Ocean
>  > Do sea monsters really exist?
>  > Exhibition 16 June 14 October 2012
>  > www.deepoceans.com.au
>  >
>  > The Australian Museum.
>  >
>  > The views in this email are those of the user and do not
> necessarily  > reflect the views of the Australian Museum. The
> information contained  > in this email message and any accompanying
> files is or may be  > confidential and is for the intended recipient
> only. If you are not  > the intended recipient, any use,
> dissemination, reliance, forwarding,  > printing or copying of this
> email or any attached files is  > unauthorised. If you are not the
> intended recipient, please delete it  > and notify the sender. The
> Australian Museum does not guarantee the  > accuracy of any
> information contained in this e-mail or attached  > files. As Internet
> communications are not secure, the Australian  > Museum does not
> accept legal responsibility for the contents of this message or attached
files.
>  >
>  > Please consider the environment before printing this email.
>  >
>  > This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and  >
> cleared by MailMarshal  >  >  >  > No virus found in this message.
>  > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com>  > Version:
> 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5140 - Release Date:
>  > 07/18/12
>  >
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5140 - Release Date:
> 07/18/12
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com>
> Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5141 - Release Date:
> 07/19/12
>



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Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5142 - Release Date: 07/19/12



------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

Hi Colin

You said...

"I suppose I would have been better concentrating on one or two and playing them
really well but I just love learning new things."

I don't think that you have anything to regret, I play a lot of instruments
myself. In the end I felt that 6 hours a day on a piano trying to fulfil my
youthful dream of becoming a concert pianist was just plain BORING: and would
probably have proved unsuccessful anyway, as it does for so many.

I would like to believe that, to some degree at least, the idea that it is
better to specialise is a relatively modern one, i.e. post French Rev. and that
it was one of several boldly stated assertions by the newly, at the time,
emancipated professional classes intended to strengthen their hold on societies
perceptions of their fields. It seems to me that at one time diversification,
particularly  outside of towns, must have been essential with coffins and
violins, for example, being made by the same man.

Anyway, in my village playing accordion for the Maypole dancing, organ for
weddings and funerals, and lessons on piano and guitar are all done by the same
man.

Richard

--- In HurdyGurdyForum@..., cwhill <cwhill@...> wrote:
>
> During my "active" time (running and playing in folk clubs) was rather a
> long time ago and pre-camcorder days!
> Old age is catching up fast (I think it's overtaken and lapped me now)
> so fingers not as nimble as they were so quality of playing has gone
> right down :(
> Some of the instruments are just too difficult for me to play now - my
> Wheatstone English concertina (ebony ends) was never this heavy before!
> As I said, collected and learned over 50 years (I was always the one for
> adding the more "unusual" instruments to the group) and never parted
> with any but occasionally "retired" them to a spare room.
> I was fortunate that, at the time I got most of them, they could be
> found in junk shops for very little money - anglo concertinas for £10,
> for instance!!!!!!
> I should point out I was never that proficient on any of them but good
> enough to play in a group (where fudged notes and the like get lost)
> provided the tunes were of a reasonable speed.
> My crowning glory was a local radio broadcast where, with others from
> nearby churches I played concertina, bodhran, mandolin and bouzouki in a
> "Celtic themed" service. Good fun.
> I didn't mention mountain dulcimer and small pipes, did I. Plus assorted
> whistles (I can also get a tune or two out of an ocarina and a
> clarinet), mouth organs and bandurria (I gave that up, the strings hurt
> my fingers too much), pipe and tabor old uncle Tom Cobley and all.
> I also play (right hand only - left hand for chords) keyboards and did
> fill in at church on a whopping great organ when we lost our official
> player. I did try the dideridoo but that doesn't go well with false
> teeth!  I'm sure I've missed a lot of instruments out - oh yes, piano
> accordion and melodeon - but my joy now after a lifetime's wait is my HG
> which I got in my 50's. Never too late and well worth the waiting!
> I suppose I would have been better concentrating on one or two and
> playing them really well but I just love learning new things. One day
> I'll get a hammer dulcimer one day (one of the few "folk" instruments I
> have never even touched) but I may be running out of time................
>
> Colin Hill

One of my problems was (is) that I have never been been able to read
music that well (no chance with bass clef). I can manage a few keys
(C,D,F,G) and so tend to play in those keys only (thank God for capos).
I think the main thing is I have enjoyed my music and had a great deal
of satisfaction and fun within the limitations and that is, after all,
what it's all about.
I stand in awe at the standard of many players and know, even with
limitless practice, I would never reach their standards but the fun
remains in what I CAN do. A polka or slow air can be as much fun as a
frantic jig.
I recall a member of our church music group who was learning the violin
talking to me about the instrument and I mentioned I had re-strung my
grandmother's instrument and had been trying it for a couple of weeks.
She said "let's hear you" so I played the Dorset four hand reel and
MacAlpines Fusiliers. She nearly didn't speak to me for a week (well,
it's same fingering as mandolin so not that difficult to adapt to it)!
I suppose being a professional does mean a standard of excellence needs
to be attained. Fortunately, I'm strictly amateur but still strive to do
the best that I can - the instruments deserve that.

Colin Hill

On 24/07/2012 11:13, richard338293 wrote:
> Hi Colin
>
> You said...
>
> "I suppose I would have been better concentrating on one or two and
> playing them really well but I just love learning new things."
>
> I don't think that you have anything to regret, I play a lot of
> instruments myself. In the end I felt that 6 hours a day on a piano
> trying to fulfil my youthful dream of becoming a concert pianist was
> just plain BORING: and would probably have proved unsuccessful anyway,
> as it does for so many.
>
> I would like to believe that, to some degree at least, the idea that it
> is better to specialise is a relatively modern one, i.e. post French
> Rev. and that it was one of several boldly stated assertions by the
> newly, at the time, emancipated professional classes intended to
> strengthen their hold on societies perceptions of their fields. It seems
> to me that at one time diversification, particularly outside of towns,
> must have been essential with coffins and violins, for example, being
> made by the same man.
>
> Anyway, in my village playing accordion for the Maypole dancing, organ
> for weddings and funerals, and lessons on piano and guitar are all done
> by the same man.
>
> Richard
>
> --- In HurdyGurdyForum@...
> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>, cwhill <cwhill@...> wrote:
>  >
>  > During my "active" time (running and playing in folk clubs) was rather a
>  > long time ago and pre-camcorder days!
>  > Old age is catching up fast (I think it's overtaken and lapped me now)
>  > so fingers not as nimble as they were so quality of playing has gone
>  > right down :(
>  > Some of the instruments are just too difficult for me to play now - my
>  > Wheatstone English concertina (ebony ends) was never this heavy before!
>  > As I said, collected and learned over 50 years (I was always the one for
>  > adding the more "unusual" instruments to the group) and never parted
>  > with any but occasionally "retired" them to a spare room.
>  > I was fortunate that, at the time I got most of them, they could be
>  > found in junk shops for very little money - anglo concertinas for £10,
>  > for instance!!!!!!
>  > I should point out I was never that proficient on any of them but good
>  > enough to play in a group (where fudged notes and the like get lost)
>  > provided the tunes were of a reasonable speed.
>  > My crowning glory was a local radio broadcast where, with others from
>  > nearby churches I played concertina, bodhran, mandolin and bouzouki in a
>  > "Celtic themed" service. Good fun.
>  > I didn't mention mountain dulcimer and small pipes, did I. Plus assorted
>  > whistles (I can also get a tune or two out of an ocarina and a
>  > clarinet), mouth organs and bandurria (I gave that up, the strings hurt
>  > my fingers too much), pipe and tabor old uncle Tom Cobley and all.
>  > I also play (right hand only - left hand for chords) keyboards and did
>  > fill in at church on a whopping great organ when we lost our official
>  > player. I did try the dideridoo but that doesn't go well with false
>  > teeth! I'm sure I've missed a lot of instruments out - oh yes, piano
>  > accordion and melodeon - but my joy now after a lifetime's wait is my HG
>  > which I got in my 50's. Never too late and well worth the waiting!
>  > I suppose I would have been better concentrating on one or two and
>  > playing them really well but I just love learning new things. One day
>  > I'll get a hammer dulcimer one day (one of the few "folk" instruments I
>  > have never even touched) but I may be running out of time................
>  >
>  > Colin Hill
>
>
>
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com>
> Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5149 - Release Date: 07/23/12
>



-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5149 - Release Date: 07/23/12

Now that makes me feel there's some hope for me.
I can't 'sight read' music either (although given time I can work out the tune
from sheet music) and I although I can't always instantly pick up a tune I
haven't heard before, I can remember it so I can work it out later - even if
I've only heard it the once. I can play a number of instruments - although none
of them particularly well - and all for my own amusement rather than any
likelihood of performing professionally. It's good to hear that I'm in good
company - even if I am probably a ranker amateur than most others in this
sub-set. I wonder if that means I'm specialising as an amateur?
S
M

-----Original Message-----
From: HurdyGurdyForum@...
[mailto:HurdyGurdyForum@...] On Behalf Of cwhill
Sent: Tuesday, 24 July 2012 9:23 PM
To: HurdyGurdyForum@...
Subject: Re: [HurdyGurdyForum] Specialising versus diversifying.

One of my problems was (is) that I have never been been able to read music that
well (no chance with bass clef). I can manage a few keys
(C,D,F,G) and so tend to play in those keys only (thank God for capos).
I think the main thing is I have enjoyed my music and had a great deal of
satisfaction and fun within the limitations and that is, after all, what it's
all about.
I stand in awe at the standard of many players and know, even with limitless
practice, I would never reach their standards but the fun remains in what I CAN
do. A polka or slow air can be as much fun as a frantic jig.
I recall a member of our church music group who was learning the violin talking
to me about the instrument and I mentioned I had re-strung my grandmother's
instrument and had been trying it for a couple of weeks.
She said "let's hear you" so I played the Dorset four hand reel and MacAlpines
Fusiliers. She nearly didn't speak to me for a week (well, it's same fingering
as mandolin so not that difficult to adapt to it)!
I suppose being a professional does mean a standard of excellence needs to be
attained. Fortunately, I'm strictly amateur but still strive to do the best that
I can - the instruments deserve that.

Colin Hill

On 24/07/2012 11:13, richard338293 wrote:
> Hi Colin
>
> You said...
>
> "I suppose I would have been better concentrating on one or two and
> playing them really well but I just love learning new things."
>
> I don't think that you have anything to regret, I play a lot of
> instruments myself. In the end I felt that 6 hours a day on a piano
> trying to fulfil my youthful dream of becoming a concert pianist was
> just plain BORING: and would probably have proved unsuccessful anyway,
> as it does for so many.
>
> I would like to believe that, to some degree at least, the idea that
> it is better to specialise is a relatively modern one, i.e. post
> French Rev. and that it was one of several boldly stated assertions by
> the newly, at the time, emancipated professional classes intended to
> strengthen their hold on societies perceptions of their fields. It
> seems to me that at one time diversification, particularly outside of
> towns, must have been essential with coffins and violins, for example,
> being made by the same man.
>
> Anyway, in my village playing accordion for the Maypole dancing, organ
> for weddings and funerals, and lessons on piano and guitar are all
> done by the same man.
>
> Richard
>
> --- In HurdyGurdyForum@...
> <mailto:HurdyGurdyForum%40yahoogroups.co.uk>, cwhill <cwhill@...> wrote:
>  >
>  > During my "active" time (running and playing in folk clubs) was
> rather a  > long time ago and pre-camcorder days!
>  > Old age is catching up fast (I think it's overtaken and lapped me
> now)  > so fingers not as nimble as they were so quality of playing
> has gone  > right down :(  > Some of the instruments are just too
> difficult for me to play now - my  > Wheatstone English concertina
> (ebony ends) was never this heavy before!
>  > As I said, collected and learned over 50 years (I was always the
> one for  > adding the more "unusual" instruments to the group) and
> never parted  > with any but occasionally "retired" them to a spare room.
>  > I was fortunate that, at the time I got most of them, they could be
> > found in junk shops for very little money - anglo concertinas for
> £10,  > for instance!!!!!!
>  > I should point out I was never that proficient on any of them but
> good  > enough to play in a group (where fudged notes and the like get
> lost)  > provided the tunes were of a reasonable speed.
>  > My crowning glory was a local radio broadcast where, with others
> from  > nearby churches I played concertina, bodhran, mandolin and
> bouzouki in a  > "Celtic themed" service. Good fun.
>  > I didn't mention mountain dulcimer and small pipes, did I. Plus
> assorted  > whistles (I can also get a tune or two out of an ocarina
> and a  > clarinet), mouth organs and bandurria (I gave that up, the
> strings hurt  > my fingers too much), pipe and tabor old uncle Tom Cobley and
all.
>  > I also play (right hand only - left hand for chords) keyboards and
> did  > fill in at church on a whopping great organ when we lost our
> official  > player. I did try the dideridoo but that doesn't go well
> with false  > teeth! I'm sure I've missed a lot of instruments out -
> oh yes, piano  > accordion and melodeon - but my joy now after a
> lifetime's wait is my HG  > which I got in my 50's. Never too late and well
worth the waiting!
>  > I suppose I would have been better concentrating on one or two and
> > playing them really well but I just love learning new things. One
> day  > I'll get a hammer dulcimer one day (one of the few "folk"
> instruments I  > have never even touched) but I may be running out of
time................
>  >
>  > Colin Hill
>
>
>
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com>
> Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5149 - Release Date:
> 07/23/12
>



-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5149 - Release Date: 07/23/12



------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links



Deep Ocean
Do sea monsters really exist?
Exhibition 16 June 14 October 2012
www.deepoceans.com.au



The Australian Museum.


The views in this email are those of the user and do not necessarily reflect the
views of the Australian Museum. The information contained in this email message
and any accompanying files is or may be confidential and is for the intended
recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination,
reliance, forwarding, printing or copying of this email or any attached files is
unauthorised. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete it and notify
the sender. The Australian Museum does not guarantee the accuracy of any
information contained in this e-mail or attached files. As Internet
communications are not secure, the Australian Museum does not accept legal
responsibility for the contents of this message or attached files.

Please consider the environment before printing this email.

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared
by MailMarshal