[Xcott Craver] developed an electronic concertina based on the Anglo concertina type that accompanies sea shanties. Instead of traditional bellows, the bellows effect is created using a load cell that measures the applied force.
The device uses Cherry MX switches with custom keycaps, two PCBs, and a Teensy 4.0 that controls the system. The USB extension cable also serves as a support that prevents the connections from being pulled apart under strain.
Why it matters
The project demonstrates that the playing mechanics of the Anglo concertina can be transferred to an electronic setup without mechanical bellows, showing that the expressive form of a traditional instrument can be implemented with a different technical infrastructure. This approach is of particular interest to musicians and makers who want to preserve the structure of an instrument associated especially with sea shanties while choosing to benefit from electronic control and computer connectivity. The structure, consisting of switches, circuit boards, and a microcontroller, shows that the device is a design in which different components work together rather than one that depends on a single custom part. However, the available information does not explain the nature of the sound produced by the setup, how closely it approaches the feel of a traditional concertina, or which software or sound system it is used with.