Bill Crossland

Now sold.....

And now two of these coming up in a Dutch Auction: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/Symphonetta-music-instrument-2004-c-A72478B8DA?utm_source=alerts&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=inv_kwalert&utm_term=2 https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/Symphonetta-music-instrument-2003-c-E8E45C4925?utm_source=alerts&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=inv_kwalert&utm_term=2

From Dowright's previously quoted figures, this would date to around 1877

Great music, beautifully delivered.... Thanks Hugh

From Dowrights information in this thread, this Lachenal (not Wheatstone!) dates from around 1870 - 1875. Sometimes the first digit of the number is hidden behind the fretwork, so it could be 142759, which would be 1890's. You would need to have a better look at the number, which will also be stamped inside, to confirm.

Frequently Ab/Eb and old pitch. Quality good on those I've seen and worked on

CP - chrome plated.....?

Nickel Plated

Dowright has an anglo attributed to 1883 with serial number 74693, so the anglo sequence doesn't fit....

Maybe the value was in the provenance, owned by Douglas "Dougie" Gray (of whom I had never heard), but the other lots from his esoteric collection included a wrecked Double Bass which went for £11k on the hammer, bidders in Spain and the US driving the prices onwards and upwards. Dougie and his brother were comedians popular in the 60's said to have been, in part, inspiration for Monty Python...... https://www.sworder.co.uk/news/organised-chaos--items-from-the-estate-of-the-late-douglas-dougie-gray/?pc=3628

From Dowright's previously published information, he has 51,799 dated as 1878 and 70,510 in 1882

We currently use UPS for shipping both to the EU and the "Rest of the World". Prior to Jan 1st, VAT was payable on EU shipments, but not ROW. Their system has already changed so that VAT is not applied to EU shipments, so this shouldn't be a problem for you.

Sorry, but the pictures don't seem to have uploaded....

Thanks Dave. I wasn't thinking of fully sinking them in, maybe 2 - 3 mm, and the offset of the two reeds in each chamber would probably allow that in all but the really big reeds at the bottom end. The double action bass (baritone?) body that I have (the concertina, not me) had standard thickness reed pans (6.8mm). I just wondered whether there was any sonic advantage in sinking them in... Trial and error looks like the way forward!