jinny

Would this be ok just to get a start: http://www.concertina.com/butler/butler-th...rtina-tutor.pdf from here: http://www.concertina.com/english/ Just a passing thought. The serial number paper is not moved and possibly a number 1 is covered or worn is it? (18178) Thanks Leo thank you for the links Leo, I'm off to have a look at them now. Just had the old lady out her box to re check the serial number but its definately 8178. I think the number stamped in the bellows is 1078. But not sure if they are Wheatstone bellows. Thanks Jinny. Hey Leo, I have just learn't to play notes c and d on my tina! Probably not at all how those notes should sound tho, given her lack of tune at the mo. But I am well chuffed that I have been able to understand the info on the first link you sent me. Have yet to look at the second link. Many thanks Jinny (a not so absolute beginner!)

Would this be ok just to get a start: http://www.concertina.com/butler/butler-th...rtina-tutor.pdf from here: http://www.concertina.com/english/ Just a passing thought. The serial number paper is not moved and possibly a number 1 is covered or worn is it? (18178) Thanks Leo thank you for the links Leo, I'm off to have a look at them now. Just had the old lady out her box to re check the serial number but its definately 8178. I think the number stamped in the bellows is 1078. But not sure if they are Wheatstone bellows. Thanks Jinny.

Hello there everybody, okay heres a thought that I would appreciate some feedback on. What if our Lady Augusta Gordon Lennox only used her official Princess title for formal occasions and on other occasions (like shopping for concertina's) she used her original title of Lady A. Lennox? For example the Princess of Wales continued to use Lady Diana Spencer as her informal title, and the Duchess of York continued to be known as Lady Sarah Ferguson. Just a thought. And heres an update on my beautiful concertina who visited the specialist yestrday, (thanks for your advice and time Theo if your reading). As expected she is old and tired and not even in tune with her self. Plus she may have even adopted her bellows from some other poor concertina who bellowed its last breath. But the good news is she can and will play again (minus moths of course and after a fair bit of TLC). I'm trying to find a good book to teach me the basics at the mo, so any advice on which one to buy would be greatly welcomed. Cheers me dears Jinny P.s my partner has just shouted from downstairs this concertina is taking over our lives!

Hi Allen, I've just replied to Peter about info I found on Lady Augusta Caroline Gordon- Lennox, and since then I have read your posting. Of course, your right, her name would have changed subsequent to her marriage which was before the instrument was sold to her. That hadn't occurred to me, I guess I'll never make Sherlock Holmes. Oh well back to the drawing board. Shame it wasn't her though because she shared my birthday. I like the sound of Lady William Lennox, with her orchestra. I too would love to be able to identify this mysterious Lady A Lennox. Will keep ya posted. Jinny

As soon as I read your reply I was off searching the net to see if could find out any info on Lady Lennox(nothing to report as yet). Is there any way from looking at the ledgers that we would know what area Lady Lennox was from, or any other info other than her name? Hi Jane, It's important to remember that whilst quality concertinas are expensive now, 150 years ago, they would probably have been quite a novelty, and status symbol for the famous and wealthy (i.e. probably proportionately even more expensive than now). If you page through the early Wheatstone ledgers, you'll find numerous Lords, Ladies and Sirs. If a search for Lady Lennox has failed to give you a lead, try Lord Lennox. There are many references (and several people with the title "Lord Lennox" over the years) but this one could possibly be the right one although he would have been quite young when the instrument was purchased: http://darwin.lib.cam.ac.uk/perl/nav?pclas...lent;pkey=10120 Regards, Peter Edited to add a working link! Hi Peter, I have been doing a bit of investigating. My partner and I looked at the ledger containing the info on my concertina, and discovered Lady Lennox's first name began with an A. The only Lady A Lennox I have been able to find from that time is a Lady Augusta Catherine Gordon-Lennox. She was born in 1827 (on the same day and month as me!) in London, and died in 1904 in London. Her husband was effectively regarded as Queen Victoria's first cousin, and after her marriage she was styled as Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar. The composer Alexander Walker wrote the tune 'Lady Augusta Gordon Lennox' for her. I have found a couple of photo's of her on the net, but no sign of my beautiful concertina! As I have already said this is the only Lady A Lennox I have been able to find during my searches but whether this is the right Lady Lennox will probably remain a mystery. As will no doubt the full history of my instrument. I hope I haven't bored you or others too much with this info, I just thought it might be of interest. Jane

hello Pete, I've been corresponding with Theo and I'm taking my concertina to him today. I'm hoping he will be able to advise me on what needs to be done. Infact I'm really looking forward to hearing what he has to say. I'd love to be able to learn to play her which I'm sure will mean some work being carried out to the instrument. I'm not one for causing an uproar but why might it be advised that I just leave the instrument how it is? Jinny

No offence taken Malcolm. You gave me and my partner a good laugh. We should trademark 'Wheatstone bellows green' and sell the name to Crown or Dulux. You saw it here first! Jinny

Welcome, Jinny, You're never too old to learn new things. It's what keeps us young Does your instrument have a serial number? That will tell us more about it's age. It might even be in the Wheatstone production ledgers, which can be searched online. Many people are self taught, myself included, and there are a number of instructional publications available. You first need to determine what kind of concertina your have. Anglo and English are the two main types. Can you describe it's appearance for us? How many buttons, etc? Mike hello Mike, thanks for the speedy reply. Here's my attempt to describe its appearence. On one side of the instrument it says 'her majesty's letters patent, C.wheatstone,(unable to read the next line), london' and on the other side there is a number '8178'. I'm not sure if this is a serial number? Its shape is hexagon. Its in a wooden box surrounded by leather. It has brass enbossed flowers on its side, with a cut out wooden pattern and brass rests for your thumbs (surrounded by leather). It has four lines of six buttons on one side and four lines of bottons on the other side; six on one line, seven on the next, six on the next and 5 on the next. Its bellows are racing car green with white patterned inlays. Hope this info is of help. Again many thanks and I look forward to your reply. Jane. Jinny, according to the ledgers, your concertina was made for Lady Lennox on February 25, 1856. It's a grand old lady, indeed. Perhaps you can teach her some new tricks. It's an English as opposed to an Anglo, probably a treble. If you could provide a picture for us, I'm sure we'd enjoy a look. Mike Double wow, somebody pinch me. I never for one minute thought that she would be as old as that, and from royality eh. I always fancied myself as a lady! As soon as I read your reply I was off searching the net to see if could find out any info on Lady Lennox(nothing to report as yet). Its fasinating to think how it got into the hands of my grandfather. My mum told me that he used to play in the Salvation Army and in the Pit (coal mine) band in Ashington, Northumberland. We wondered if he was given the instrument from the Salvation Army as we're not sure how else he would have been able to afford it. We have worked out that my granfather played this instrument in the 1940's, maybe a little earlier. So we can account for its whereabouts since this time. It would be great to be able to work out its family tree. Is there any way from looking at the ledgers that we would know what area Lady Lennox was from, or any other info other than her name? Meanwhile we are going to take the grand old lady for a health check to a local specialist (thank you Theo if your reading). We're all very amazed and enthused about our discovery, and also very grateful for the wonderful response that we have had from this site. Keep up the fab advice and help. Big thanks Mike. Kind regards Jane. P.S. I will definately post some pics of the old girl in all her splendour for all to see.

Hi Jane, You say that you are from Northumberland; do you still live there? If you are interested in traditional music, and specifically that from your home area, you could do worse than seek out Alistair Anderson (who I saw, today, for the first time in 10 years!). Alistair is full-time professional and does a fair amount of teaching of both traditional music and English concertina. He is based in Alnwick, so should be fairly easy to track down. Regards, Peter. Hi peter, more good advice. I do still live in Northumberland (stocksfield) and I'm often in the Alnwick Area so will attempt to track down Alistair. Thank you all for the advice so far. thankyou thankyou jane

Leo, yes this does help. It sounds like its the same note to me. And yes it looks just like the instruments in your and Michaels pics. Can't believe i've neglected such a beautiul thing for so long. It probably can't wait to played again! Jane p.s. where you from Leo?

Leo, yes this does help. It sounds like its the same note to me. And yes it looks just like the instruments in your and Michaels pics. Can't believe i've neglected such a beautiul thing for so long. It probably can't wait to played again! Jane

Hi Jinny I'm not a specialist by any means or criterion. No it's not too late to learn. Yes it's worth something. Insurance is up to you. This is the place for help. (the short version). Do you have any musical ability now, and what part of the world do you live in. There are people all over the world here. The parent site to this forum has good information: http://www.concertina.net/ Some great history and learning information: http://www.concertina.com/ Another great site for information: http://www.concertina.info/ Thanks Leo (Sorry Michael typing at the same time. You took the word out of my mouth) Hi Leo, thanks for the help,I'll check out those sites tomorrow. I've replied to Michael and posted a descrption of my instrument. As for my musical abilty, well it's nothing to write home about. I can play the recorder (stop laughing) and I can play the guitar a little bit. Is there any hope? Oh and I can play one song on the mouth organ! I'm from Northumberland, England, UK. Thanks jane.

Welcome, Jinny, You're never too old to learn new things. It's what keeps us young Does your instrument have a serial number? That will tell us more about it's age. It might even be in the Wheatstone production ledgers, which can be searched online. Many people are self taught, myself included, and there are a number of instructional publications available. You first need to determine what kind of concertina your have. Anglo and English are the two main types. Can you describe it's appearance for us? How many buttons, etc? Mike hello Mike, thanks for the speedy reply. Here's my attempt to describe its appearence. On one side of the instrument it says 'her majesty's letters patent, C.wheatstone,(unable to read the next line), london' and on the other side there is a number '8178'. I'm not sure if this is a serial number? Its shape is hexagon. Its in a wooden box surrounded by leather. It has brass enbossed flowers on its side, with a cut out wooden pattern and brass rests for your thumbs (surrounded by leather). It has four lines of six buttons on one side and four lines of bottons on the other side; six on one line, seven on the next, six on the next and 5 on the next. Its bellows are racing car green with white patterned inlays. Hope this info is of help. Again many thanks and I look forward to your reply. Jane.

Hello all, I'm in need of a bit of specialist advice. My mum gave me her father's wheatstone concertina a few years ago. Yesterday I was listening to a local radio prog; the lady who wrote and played the music for bagpus was on and was talking about and playing a concertina. I have since been trying to find out info on my instrument and was surprised to hear it might even be worth some money. I turned the grand age of 30 this year and wonder is it too late for me to learn to play this instrument? And how could I learn? And if it is worth some money do I need to insure it? Can any one help answer my questions. Many thanks Jane.