Pattina

I'm a new member of the concertina net and new to the forums. I've been a player of English concertinas for many years and just had what appears to be an old Wheatstone dropped in my lap. I would like to restore it but my biggest fear is tuning or dealing with the reeds in any way. I have plenty of experience keeping my tenon treble aeola alive by cleaning buzzing reeds etc, but no experience overhauling an old instrument like this. I can replace parts I'm sure (with minimal help) and deal with wood issues, but reeds are another thing. How would a guy from Minneapolis learn how to do this? I fear that this instrument may not be worth it since the reeds appear to be mostly brass with some steel replacements. Can brass and steel reeds coexist and work together or should I bag this project? Here is the instrument in question.

I'm new to the forums here and this is my concertina. Deeply in need of new thumbstraps and probably a going over since Collin Dipper worked on it 20 years ago.

I can post more photos of this tina if you want. Here they are.

I am a new member and have a question about an old English concertina. Can anyone help me identify this instrument and it's age? I have done what research I can and it seems to be an 1853 Wheatstone. I'm hoping that is the serial number on the inside of the instrument. The Wheatstone ledgers don't seem to tell me anything about what the instrument is that goes with a particular number. It has a mix of brass and steel reeds that make me think it's not worth fixing as I'm guessing they sound different from each other. If this instrument does have some value and is worth fixing or finding a collector/repair person, let me know. Thanks in Advance