Theo

I recommend these valves. They are as easy to fit as plastic, but without the rasping noises that plastic can give on the larger reeds.

Best uk source for valves is OG Accordions https://ogaccordions.com/product-category/accordion_spares/valves_wax/

Yes I have a very nice 48 key ebony Edeophone.

Thanks Alex, that’s more or less what I’ve been thinking. It would be a project with some interesting challenges and the end result should be a good player, but not necessarily a profitable enterprise! the levers are all brass, and have suffered some sort of corrosion which has severely weakened them. To be on the safe side I would replace all the levers, but the lever posts should be usable.

I don’t have any history. I can guess it’s been somewhere damp for decades, a cellar perhaps?

Yes I know, and there's no photos of the left reed pan. Still plenty to go on though.

I've had this sitting for a while waiting for attention. It's in poor condition with just about every possible defect you could imagine, but is it worth trying to restore it? Recreate it might be a better description of what is required. It's a very early 26 key anglo with features of the earliest Jeffries, but no makers name anywhere that I can find. I've cleaned up one or two reeds and they sound bright and clear. Most reeds look usable, a few on the left end are badly rusted and might need new tongues. I'm interested to hear comments on suggestions on: 1 How to identify a maker 2 whether it's worth repairing 3 anything else The photos don't show the warped reed pans, both are wrapped about 4mm out of flat.

I'll start a separate topic with more photos

Concertinas can be much worse... Older, dirtier, completely non-working!

Don't even think about retuning. It's a highly skilled job. Less common keys (like GD) are actually very saleable. Much better to trade or buy and sell to get the pitch you want.

Thank you Stephen, thats's interesting. I hadn't even noticed the corner block shape.

Definitely no serial numbers, and clear T Walpole labels and stamps, so no need to look for another maker, especially after the recent input from his family member.

Looking at the concertina that started this topic I would say that he was familiar with the way the Lachenal 20 button concertinas were made and he then built his own with the materials he had available. Everthing about it follows the lachenal design, but with subtle differences. The most obvious is that the fretwork pattern is an exact copy, but instead of plain mahogany he used a base timber with a very attractive veneer. Another example is the levers which are again a careful copy of Lachenal lever, but made of slightly thicker material.

Website gives a 403 error when I've tried it recently.

Cutting on the bias is best, it helps to eliminate fraying from the cut edges.