Hello
I wonder if anyone can help me - although I am a musician I specialise in Mandolins, Mandolas & Citterns etc and know next to nothing about Concertinas.
I have just been given a concertina that has the makers name of Lachenal.
It has 10 buttons on each end plus an additional (Air?) button.
It has a serial number of 64515 on the opposite end to the makers name.
A stamp and examination indicate steel reeds set on brass blocks.
Is it what is referred to as a 20 key Anglo Concertina?
The 6 sided ends are made of Mahogany/Satinwood?
Leather 5 fold bellows with green/gold star paper pattern.
It has what I assume is the original
I can date old Mandolins pretty accurately but have no idea on this - are there resources to date this instrument?
I do a fair bit of stringed instrument repair and so after a quick tour of the internet for advice (from a Concertina.net advertiser) I carefully removed one end cheek - it has what has been described as the Lachenal hook and spring action with brass levers.
I am assuming that all the air holes next to the reeds should have a leather valve?
Two are missing and I assume this accounts for 1/2 notes sounding whether the key is pressed or not?
The pads are cardboard with a sandwich of leather and felt - I suspect they are in poor condition/compressed - some have come detached and I have temporarily re-glued.
I have seen some replacement pads but they have soft leather on the surface that presses against the hole - whereas my box has felt against the hole - can I replace them with the leather version or do I need felt and if so any idea of a source?
I am wondering if this instrument is actually worth professional restoration - it appears in basically good condition other than pads _ I'm not sure if it is in tune hence my query on the pads/valves.
Many thanks for your help.
