Journet Concertinas

[andylyddiatt]

Anybody know of the significance of the name Journet in concertina manufacture or dealing? I have just seen a modest 20-key, wooded-ended anglo marked with the name Journet both as a label on the baffle and engrave in one end.

[Stephen Chambers]

Journet was a London musical instrument dealer. I have seen his label on several Lachenal instruments from the second half of the 19th century.

[red]

I thought that the name "Journet" rang a bell, and then I remembered that I had bought a "Salzburg Zither" with this label some years ago. It's very similar to that in the V&A's collection cat. no. 14 /1 museum no. 642-1869, this latter being the aquisition date I assume. It was on display last time I was in there. I also researched in the Guildhall Library's collection of Trade Directories; and can give the following.

 

Journet, Henry, Music Inst. Warehouse at 43 Tottenham Court Road, 1870-1901

 

the 1907 Directory lists;-

 

Journet, Alice(Mrs). Toy Dealer, 10 Gt. Western Rd.

 

Journet, Anatole. Opera Hat Maker, 3 Charlotte St.

 

Journet, Robert Wm. Toy Dealer. 498 Harrow Road.

 

Charlotte street is just off Tottenham Court Road, while the other two addresses are in the western suburbs a mile or two off. So presumably all related. whether Toy is in the modern sense of a child's plaything or it's original sense of a small item of manfacture such as snuff box or a shoe buckle I am not sure.

 

I hope this is of interest although a little off-topic.

Edited September 5, 2004 by red

[red]

In addition, I transcribe the label below

 

"H J Journet

Musical Instrument Manufacturer

Importer of

Violins, Violoncellos, Double Bases, Bows

Guitars, Zithers

Roman and English Strings of the Finest Quality

Musical Boxes

with "Drums", "Bells", "Flutes" and "Castinets"(sic)

Nicole Freres Main Springs & all other Fittings supplied to the Trade

Clarionets, Flutes, Cornets, Concertinas

Reeds of Barini and other Makers

Musical Box Repairs of every Discription as at Geneva. Zithers restrung and retuned

43 Tottenham Court Road London"

 

Which of these, if any, he actually manufactured is open to question. The reference to Geneva may suggest Journet was of French/Swiss origin.

Edited September 5, 2004 by red

[redback]

I have a beautiful H J Journet parlor guitar. It has a spruce top with an elaborate mother of pearl soundhole rose and ebony pinned moustache bridge. The back and sides are of brazilian rosewood. I bought it in a secondhand shop about 40 years ago and have fully restored it. It looks to be of French (maybe Swiss) manufacture. Due to the type of frets fitted I'd estimate that the guitar is well over a100 years old. The address on the label is the same as the one in the post above