chris rowe

Anyone who successfully brews beer can't be sad ! The only link I have for the Astleys in Mexborough are two letters from for the G.A.Beaumont, the entertainment secretary of the 'Mexbro' War Casualties Fund, one (17/07/48) asking them to entertain the wounded in the M.O.P Hospital in Chapel-Allerton, and the other (20/07/48) thanking them, and wishing them "bon voyage" to Australia. I you would like a copy, pm me with your email address

Correct Geoff, should be 2 3/4 !

Three Aeolas for sale on https://concertinashop.com.au Wheatstone Piccolo S/No.31355 , 48 key, as new condition, white Erinoid ends, buff bellows, 5 1/2 inches across flats. Wheatstone Treble S/No. 31358, 48 key, very good condition, white Erinoid ends, buff bellows, 6 inches acrosss flats. Wheatstone Miniature S/No 25689, 12 key, good condition, nickel ends, 1 1/8 inches across the flats, in original case. These concertinas were owned by well known entertainers Cecil and Jenny Astley, we would prefer all three to go to one buyer, Piccolo and Treble are in original double case and will NOT be sold separately. Please mention C.net on contact to ensure a donation can be made.

Thank you Stephen, that is wonderful information

Thanks Simon, The photos were taken in the 1940s, I know they played at benefits for wounded service men for the Mexbro War Casualty Fund before emmigrating to Australia in 1948. In 1959 after her husbands death Jenny Astley sent a concertina and music to the Kensington Septet lead by Len Jones. That's all I have apart from one of the miniatures seen in the photo

Hello, Does anyone recognise these performers from the 1940s , husband and wife family name Astley. Sorry I cant rotate the image

This is on Ebay Australia, I've never seen one before ,A$350.

Brilliant !

Amazing ! What is the concertina Geoff, he said in the clip it was 100 years old.

In 1962 three men escaped from Alcatraz Prison in an inflatable raft they had manufactured from rain coats, below is an extract from Alcatrazhistory.com "while Morris modified an accordion-like musical instrument called a concertina, which would be used to rapidly inflate the raft." Hopefully it was a cheap one !

Could I please have dates on two concertinas please, Louis Lachenal 20 key s/no 12112 and a Lachenal & Co 30 key s/no 164895, both are fine fret rosewood, the 30 key has steel reeds.

Malcolm, you are totally correct, I just checked my 30 key with the benefit of a good light, the fulcrum posts are definitely brass, I think I need to visit the optician !

Thanks Malcolm, I stand corrected, I assumed steel from the colour.

Thank you, that explains the C.Staff, he was a musical instrument dealer in Melbourne, went bust briefly in 1864 then traded to the latter end of the century.

I purchased this rosewood 20 key via Ebay last week, it was advertised as a "Louis Lachenal", the label in the cartouche is a modern copy of the correct label, the serial number is 12112 which if it is a genuine Louis would date it by my reckoning to about 1863, it has the original case which is very well made of solid timber. There is some conjecture as to whether it is a Jones or a Lachenal, so here I am asking for those with much greater experience than mine to advise their opinion. The bone keys were originally all numbered, but numbers on the most keys have been erased by wear (up to 2mm), at some stage a wooden extension has been added to the air button; the bellows look original but need significant repairs if not replacement, but are good enough to establish all notes work and are in tune (A440) so at some stage it has been retuned, it plays quite well. Comparing it to my 30 key Lachenal S/No.164895, the dimensions are the same, the fretwork is different, the bellows papers are the same, the keys are a different size 6.4 mm on the 20, 5.8 mm on the 30, spacing is the same. The fretwork on the 20 looks identical to that on the Louis Lachenal in the Concertina Museum #C290. The levers on both are the same, flattened round brass, hooked not riveted, the levers on the 20 are under staples, whereas on the 30 they are through rectangular flat steel posts. The overall construction of the 20 key looks superior to that of the 30, the routing is cleaner and more precise, the reed shoes fit perfectly, each is very clearly stamped with it's note, the stamping on the 30 is very rough and not distinct. The brass reed shoes are 1.91mm thick, reeds are steel. Internally the only marking is the serial number, externally the palm supports lack the trade mark and "Steel Reeds" stamp, but from the amount of wear appear original, on the sides of both ends roughly adjacent to the air button is stamped "C.STAFF"