Tad52

Hello Alex, I am a bit behind the time - have you sold this instrument please? kind regards, Andy

Thank you, Wes. My Louis Lachenal No 5810 plays well; I identified it as being visually similar to a Wheatstone model.

5810 - by Louis Lachenal. In 2005 Stephen Chambers in his very comprehensive "Some Notes on Lachenal Concertina Production and Serial Numbers" gave a lowest confirmed number of 6119 for concertinas made by Louis Lachenal in his own name, rather than for Charles Wheatstone, and deduced that Louis Lachenal commenced his numbering for English concertinas from 6000. Has this been revised downwards in the light of earlier concertinas that have since come to light, such as mine? This is a rather nice instrument with very narrow steel reeds. Subjectively I believe the dynamic range is similar to later instruments, but overall quieter and more mellow. Colin Dipper commented that the tolerances were very fine! Surprisingly the ends and bellows are as when I bought it - Colin fettered the tuning and valves

Resisted following validation of model number and correction of statement about the bellows.

Thanks for that information Ben. I was playing concertina in South Africa around 1979 to 1981, and there was quite a strong interest in the instrument. There was even a 2 hour radio programme of concertina music every Saturday afternoon.

Anglo Aeola concertina by Wheatstone in C/G with 40 keys including a drone button giving C in both directions plus an air button. The instrument is tuned to A440 with 8 fold bellows supplied with a lined hard case. The righthand frame is stamped R 7a, indicating that this is a model 7a, i.e. Aeola. Wheatstone sales ledger SD04 confirms that this is a 7a, and gives a sale date of 8 April 1972. The bellows bear an internal label "Vervaadig dear: Wimpie croukamp 012 3794601" and an inscription 1/4/0003. This may be Dutch or Afrikaans. This label may confirm that the bellows have been replaced at some time, as possibly implied by the bellows being 8 fold rather than 6. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/192029103261?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 Reason for sale - too complicated for my small brain! I ams also selling a bass viol, tenor shawm and a quartet of cornamusen (if I am permitted to mention these). I am in the north-west of England if anyone wishes to "try before you buy". I will to course make a donation to concertina.net in the event that the ultimate buyer first learnt about the instrument on this site. I should have listed this instrument on this site first, but I have already listed it on Ebay.