sadbrewer

I tried it, but five times a day was too much noise for the neighbours to tolerate.

I've had two duet Aeloa's and a duet Edeophone, I prefer the Aeola, but to be fair the Edeophone was pretty good too.

For anyone of a younger age... Mike Harding is a Manchester Folk singer and comedian... this link is him playing the instrument in question back in the 70’s. The Strangeways Hotel BTW is Manchester's Strangeways Prison.

Henry Harley wasn't born until 1833, so the photo would probably be too early for it to be one of his instruments.

I'm in the UK so obviously quite convenient for Barleycorn. Over the years I've bought and traded in several instruments with Chris. I've always found him to be a top bloke.

I have a similar instrument...unfortunately it is packed away at the moment...I'll put my serial number on here asap. Edit...mine is number 28100...May 12th 1919.

Looks like a 5 to me.

No sorry I didn't see your previous post Irene...I'd started on this this morning before you posted , and previously there seemed to be a bit of uncertainty as to the 1915 death. I did find the 1911 census return and a 1918 workhouse entry for Sarah where it stated her husband had been John (musician) but that Nok was now her sister...if that was previously posted...apologies I missed it. The idea was to at least narrow the death down into that 1911-1918 period. If it's of interest it gives Sarah's Dob as May 27th 1872. Below is the link https://gw.geneanet.org/kimd10?lang=en&iz=0&p=john+hill&n=maccann

Continued

Just having a look at this ( for the first time, so please forgive me if I am covering old ground)...the 1911 census gives John 50yrs and Sarah 40yrs Maccann living at 1 Winter Street.... Then I found this continued overleaf

Clive...the census records were checked through Findmypast and Ancestry, the newspaper advert came from The British Newspaper Archive. We dropped a little unlucky that Mr Morton wasn't at the address in the 1891 or 1901 census'...that would have given us his forename and other family member names that we could use to really track him down. We could use electoral rolls that may give extra information but unfortunately Sheffield's are not online...visit to the archives in person only. I also used the search for W Morton, Grocer, Sheffield, 1891-1901 and did find one, unfortunately at an address in Grimesthorpe Road in 1891 and 1901, so probably not our man. My guess is that he took the shop but it was not a success ( although I can find no record of a bankruptcy) and after a couple of years went back to his original trade. He could have died of course...there are four deaths for W Morton's in Sheffield between 1898 and 1901 but without ordering death certificates there is no way of knowing if any are our man. If you were interested enough you could order the certificates one by one at £7 from the GRO, you might strike gold with the first, however Mr Morton may not have died in which case it would be money wasted...you never know till you try. The house was condemned in the slum clearances of 1939 but the picture below( from Picture Sheffield) is from the 1960's when the street was still up, it shows No's 131 to 143, suggesting 193 would have been 25 houses around the corner. Andy

Clive, unfortunately W Morton was not at that address in either the 1891 or 1901 census. The property though was a rented shop with accomodation, both the 1891 & 1901 occupants were Grocer's by trade so it's probably fair to accept W Morton was the same. He was advertising for a servant in 1896.

Look around the second-hand shops or auction sites, there are often old song books written for community singing accompanied by piano, maybe not as good as bespoke concertina composition but the melodies are still there of course.

Clive, if you haven't researched it already give us the name and address of the owner and I'll see what, if anything, I can dig up...might be interesting.

There are a few advertised in the old newspapers...mainly in the 1930's although one as far back as 1891....the description is Peerless Anglo Concertina. Possibility it could be this chap...from 1890 Having said that it appears to be a completely different instrument according to prior discussion on here.