Wheatstone 56 key raised ends

[jamesdobson]

*I am considering selling my Wheatstone 56 Key Concertina. Please get in touch if you are interested, my email is dobsjam@aol.com*

 

I was left a wheatstone 56 key at the age of 3 after my grandfather passed away. It was sat in its box unused for 27 years so at the start of this year i decided to have a restoration carried out. I was put in contact with A.C.Norman who agreed to restore it by the end of the year! I recieved it back today after a full restoration. Description as follows:-wheatstone 56 key , raised metal ends, tune to concert pitch (A=440HZ),revalve,clean reeds,polish and adjust,new straps and new 6 fold bellows. I am not sure what to do with it now and just wondered how interesting an instrument it would be to someone? I intended to have it restored and maybe learn to play but i already play guitar and mandolin so i think thats enough. Maybe considering selling as i'm sure my grandfather would rather i bought an instrument i could play and i don't want it sat in its box for another 27 years. I would be grateful if someone would reply and showed interest. THANK YOU ALL WHO HAVE MAILED ME. I keep trying to upload pics of said concertina but not having any success. Anyone have any tips or could anyone add them for me if i mailed them the pics??? Thanks again James.

Edited January 21, 2011 by jamesdobson

[PeterT]

I was left a wheatstone 56 key at the age of 3 after my grandfather passed away. It was sat in its box unused for 27 years so at the start of this year i decided to have a restoration carried out. I was put in contact with A.C.Norman who agreed to restore it by the end of the year! I recieved it back today after a full restoration. Description as follows:-wheatstone 56 key , raised metal ends, tune to concert pitch (A=440HZ),revalve,clean reeds,polish and adjust,new straps and new 6 fold bellows. I am not sure what to do with it now and just wondered how interesting an instrument it would be to someone? I intended to have it restored and maybe learn to play but i already play guitar and mandolin so i think thats enough. Maybe considering selling as i'm sure my grandfather would rather i bought an instrument i could play and i don't want it sat in its box for another 27 years. I would be grateful if someone would reply and showed interest.

Hi James,

 

I'd always vote in favour of you trying to learn on this instrument, but your mind appears to be made up.

 

Do you have the serial number? This would enable us to know more about the instrument.

 

Regards,

Peter.

[Pete Dunk]

Can you tell us the serial number from the L/H end? Does it have six sides or eight? How about a few pics? On the right hand side, second row down from the thumb strap what is the lowest note, a G or a C? This will tell us if it's a tenor/treble or an extended treble (assuming it's not a 56 key baritone...). What part of the country are you in?

 

Cheers,

 

Pete.

[jamesdobson]

If you send me your email address i will be happy to forward you pics of the instrument, Thanks James.

[Simon H]

From your description and the fact that it was restored, you probably have a desirable instrument. as you are already a musician, you have a head start on many here who take up concertina as a first instrument. Why not make the effort to give it a go. A week or two of diligent learning practice and you will be bemoaning the wasted 27 years. There are good vids on Youtube to get you started, and there is a whole community here that would will you on.

 

I think you can be pretty sure there are people here who will be enquiring about the instrument too, if you do decide to sell.

[Leonard]

If you send me your email address i will be happy to forward you pics of the instrument, Thanks James.

Why not post the pictures here? We're all eager to see them.

[Pete Dunk]

I've seen pictures now and she looks to be an absolute gem. No 28428, May 1920 Model 24 which is a 56 key extended treble version of the 22. No signs of heavy wear or chewed end bolts etc. Refurbished by Andy Norman this will be a nice player too, if I was in the market I'd be seriously interested in this one.

[PeterT]

THANK YOU ALL WHO HAVE MAILED ME. I keep trying to upload pics of said concertina but not having any success. Anyone have any tips or could anyone add them for me if i mailed them the pics???

Here are some of the photos which James mailed to me. I have selected the ones which would best answer the questions of a potential purchaser.

 

It's model No.24 from 1920, and looks to be a beauty.

[hjcjones]

I would like to add my voice to those who are encouraging you to give it a try. It certainly looks like a lovely instrument, which many players would covet, and there is also the connection with your grandfather. As you are already a musician this should help you to get started.

 

You say that playing guitar and mandolin is enough. However, learning another instrument may also help with the ones you already play, and because the sound and playing technique of the concertina is so different from stringed instruments, it can make a nice change. I also play several instruments, and find that after a while I reach a plateau with a particular instrument, however when I then turn to another instrument I often find that I am then inspired and find new ideas to try out. So I find that I am constantly cycling between instruments, sometimes the concertina, sometimes melodeon, sometimes guitar - I never get bored or frustrated because when I do I can switch to something else.

 

If you really aren't interested in playing concertina, or decide it's not for you, then I agree it would be better for the instrument to go to someone who will play it rather than it sitting in its box for another 27 years. But I hope you will give it a try first.