Lizzie

Thanks Chris for your encouragement. I think very highly of my husband's skills. He never does anything out of the norm without carefully researching the subject. His concerns , for now, are the valves and the small area of damaged fretwork. The reeds will be left to professionals. He is taking it one step at a time. When he receives Dave Elliott's book, he will replace the valves, thumb straps, a couple of springs, and one end screw. Then, depending on how the lady sings, will take it to the next step. Please be reassured that having rescued her from a thrift store, we will not destroy this lovely instrument. Please give us more credit than that. When the lady does sing, I will treat you all to a resounding rendition of "On Top of Old Smokey." Mmmm, maybe not - it only has four notes in the whole song. Perhaps a ten-note song to start. Then you can all critique away, if desired, the lady's voice (and not my playing skills of course). You'll also be extremely relieved when I don't sing along, it would be hard to tell who's more out of key. Hopefully, I can do better than ten notes but it won't be easy for this retired school secretary.

Sorry, it's me again. The photos may show some missing parts but the instrument is intact with all the original pieces. Some have been removed, ie. thumb straps, waiting for new ones. All the original pieces will be kept and not discarded.

Since I cannot seem to attach the pictures to this forum, I've uploaded them to Picassa Web Albums and hopefully, the link below will work. If not, I'll wait for precise instructions on how to do this, step by step (you'll have gathered I'm not too computer savy). As to the question on where I reside, it's in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. http://picasaweb.google.com/102800908324133305845/WheatstoneConcertina2?feat=directlink My husband has ordered Dave Elliott's concertina repair manual and will not proceed with restoration, large or small, until it is carefully read. He only wants to get it to a playable condition at this point. On the issue of value, I only wanted to get a general idea of value, perhaps some previous sale prices. If we get it to a playable point, I may give it a try and learn to play it although I'm not, as yet, musically gifted. Any assistance in this direction would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

The serial number is: 25945. I'd like to post some pictures but am not having any success. Can anyone tell me how to attach multiple pictures. Thank you.

I was recently rummaging in the depths of our local thrift store and there, in a dark corner, a glint of something caught my eye. Being of a very curious nature, I got closer and saw this eight-sided, black leatherbound, ebony former beauty, twenty-four eyes darkly gleaming from one side of her face, in what very little light there was. Upon further inspection, these eyes beckoned to me and she fairly squeaked "please take me home. I want to be so pretty and beautiful as I once was, and I want to sing so exquisitely again." And that's exactly what I did. This lovely lady turned out to be a Wheatstone English Aeola, 48 buttons, treble, I think, and in need of some loving care. Her fretwork on one side has some damage which my husband is attempting to repair with ebony veneers. Some of her reeds have some rust and may need to be replaced as well as her valves and some springs. Her bellows seem to be intact but her thumb straps need replacing. My husband is going to repair her as best as he can. Her serial number, stamped inside, indicates she was born in 1913, according to the ledgers. I was listening to a 2007 BBC special on concertinas and the commentator noted many concertinas went off to war with the soldiers and I think, maybe, this is how she became damaged but it's hard to tell. Could anyone tell me, please, if she is a fairly rare lady and and some idea of her value in case we decide to find her a new home, one where she will shine in her former glory.. Thank you.