Bill Crossland Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 (edited) I've just come across a Jeffries concertina in this unusual key, pitched almost an octave below a standard. The middle row is playing slightly south of E (maybe 15 cents) and the bottom row south of B. Reed stampings suggest that it was originally intended to be in Eb/Bb. While the instrument appears to be original in all aspects, some of the reeds show a little tuning work on the tips, as if it might have been tuned up slightly at some point in its life. It's quite a large instrument in a 6 3/8" frame, as opposed to the usual smaller 6" across the flats. It has raised ends with the inscription C Jefferies (unusual spelling!) 12, Aldershot Rd, Kilburn NW6. Wes Williams notes on anglo keys suggest that this is an extremely unusual key combination. Any suggestions for a possible original use for it?? Or indeed a new use? Jeffries EB.pdf Edited May 2, 2016 by Bill Crossland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Hornett Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 Bill, Join a brass band. I suspect it once held pride of place in such a setting. David Hornett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 possibly original tuning was old philharmonic pitch EbBb in meantone tuning, and it's been tuned up to ET based on the highest pitches in meantone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 It has raised ends with the inscription C Jefferies (unusual spelling!) 12, Aldershot Rd, Kilburn NW6. So (presumably?) the name is engraved on it Bill, and the engraver spelled it wrongly? Mind you, it wouldn't be the first time I've come across that erroneous spelling either - I remember finding, on a 19th century census, two Jeffries family households living in the same house, and the enumerator had spelt the name differently for them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Crossland Posted May 3, 2016 Author Share Posted May 3, 2016 Very nicely engraved, even if it was wrong! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 Very nicely engraved, even if it was wrong! Ah, the times I spent in NW6! (Courting a red-haired Irish girl who lived in Dunster Gardens, just around the corner from Aldershot Road...) Comes back down to earth - yes the Aldershot Road, C. Jeffries, markings can be very "variable" to say the least! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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